Functional Movement Screen Helps Athletes Avoid Injury

CHATTANOOGA, TN June 1, 2011 – What if you could predict an injury before it ever happened?  Dr. Heath Perez, Licensed Physical Therapist at Spine & Sport Physical Therapy, is helping people do just that with the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) certification he earned in January 2011.

The FMS is a series of tests that identify dysfunctional movement patterns.  The test is designed to address a person’s “weak links” in the musculoskeletal system, something often overlooked or unknown until injury occurs.

“The FMS is a great objective tool to help identify an underlying issue that may contribute to an injury,” says Dr. Perez.  “The last thing a person should do is put a lot of work and training on top of a dysfunctional movement pattern; it only increases the potential for injury.  Most weak links can be improved with a little bit of effort in the right direction.”

After completing the screen, which consists of 7 motions, a numerical score is assigned--highest score being 21.  Based on the scores, Dr. Perez then prescribes corrective exercises to help deter future injury and improve their score.  “The entire screening process takes only 30 minutes,” he explains.  “Thirty minutes worth of prevention is much better than an entire missed season due to injury.”

Functional Movement Screens are for any athlete (Youth to Professionals) and anyone wanting to become more physically active.  It is a great tool for runners, cyclists, or just an average person wanting to get back into an exercise routine.  NFL & NBA teams, firefighters, and the Secret Service have used the FMS to detect injury risks and to increase performance potential. 

Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located on Gunbarrel Road across from Erlanger East.  To learn more about the FMS, visit the Special Programs section on the Spine & Sport website: www.GotYourBackPT.com.