Workplace injuries can drastically affect employees’ health and your organization’s profitability. Implementing proactive strategies to reduce injury risks and create a safer work environment is essential.
Functional movement screening effectively prevents work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and other workplace injuries. This systematic approach can help identify potential risk factors and movement inefficiencies before they become preventable issues.
Here, we will explore various functional movement screening tests and uncover their immense potential for creating a safer, more thriving workspace.
What is Functional Movement Screening?
Functional movement screening (FMS) is a systematic assessment tool Gray Cook and Lee Burton developed in the early 2000s. It helps evaluate movement patterns and identify limitations or asymmetries in fundamental motor control and stability.
Although FMS is not a method for diagnosing medical conditions, studies show it can significantly reduce injury risks by highlighting inefficient movement patterns in individuals. FMS has gained traction in various fields, such as sports medicine and occupational health.
Key Components of FMS
The primary purpose of FMS is to assess the whole body’s mobility and stability during functional movements. Evaluating these aspects helps identify individuals at risk for injury due to poor movement mechanics.
The screening involves seven movement patterns, which include:
- Deep Squat: Assesses bilateral and symmetrical stability of the hips, knees, and ankles.
- Hurdle Step: Challenges single-leg balance and stability while requiring coordinated lower body movement.
- In-Line Lunge: Assesses stability and balance during a dynamic lunge position to reduce injury risks.
- Shoulder Mobility: Measures the flexibility and range of motion in shoulder movements.
- Active Straight Leg Raise: Tests hamstring flexibility and hip mobility while maintaining core stability.
- Trunk Stability Push-Up: Measures core stability and upper body strength in a coordinated movement.
- Rotational Stability: Tests control and stability during rotational movements.
The Benefits of Functional Movement Screening
Implementing functional movement screening tests has several advantages for employees and employers. Let’s explore these advantages to see whether FMS is worth the investment.
Injury Risk Identification
FMS is a proactive tool that helps identify employees at higher risk of injury. It reduces that risk by pinpointing dysfunctional movement patterns and asymmetries.
By systematically evaluating how employees perform basic movements, FMS identifies potential weaknesses and imbalances that could lead to workplace strains, sprains, and other musculoskeletal issues.
This early detection allows targeted interventions to correct these issues and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Customized Injury Prevention Strategies
After analyzing FMS results, organizations can create employee health and wellness programs tailored to the specific needs of their workforce.
These customized strategies focus on improving mobility, stability, and overall movement quality to correct imbalances and reduce the likelihood of injury.
Enhanced Performance
Besides injury prevention, improving movement quality through functional movement screening can enhance workplace performance and productivity.
Employees who move more efficiently and with less strain are more likely to experience reduced fatigue, increased comfort, and improved job satisfaction. This increased satisfaction leads to greater focus, higher energy levels, and enhanced productivity that will benefit the employee and the organization.
Baseline Measurement and Progress Tracking
FMS can be a valuable tool for measuring baselines and tracking progress. By regularly assessing movement quality, organizations can monitor improvements over time and ensure that their injury prevention strategies are efficient and continually evolving.
They can make the necessary adjustments to maintain long-term benefits and create a sustainable injury prevention protocol at their workplace.
The FMS Process
The functional movement screening tests provide data-driven insights to reduce injury risks and improve performance through targeted intervention programs.
Here is a step-by-step overview of the functional movement screening process:
- Initial Assessment: A certified professional will guide the employee through seven standardized movement patterns.
- Scoring: Each movement is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with zero indicating pain, 1 indicating an inability to perform the movement, 2 indicating the movement can be performed with some compensation, and 3 indicating perfect execution. The composite score ranges from 0 to 21. A score below 14 indicates a higher risk of injury.
- Feedback: Individuals receive immediate feedback on their movement patterns, highlighting areas of strength and areas needing improvement to reduce injury risks.
- Corrective Strategies: Based on these results, personalized wellness plans and exercise programs are developed to address movement deficiencies.
- Follow-Up: Employers can schedule regular reassessments to track progress and adjust exercise programs.
Implementing Functional Movement Screening in Your Organization
Implementing FMS within your organization can be straightforward. Follow these steps to incorporate it into your workplace successfully.
1. Getting Started With FMS
You can contact industrial athletic trainers or sports medicine professionals to get started. These certified professionals can conduct functional movement screening tests and provide reliable feedback to reduce injury risks.
Set a timeline for implementation. You can schedule initial screenings during onboarding or as part of the health assessments.
2. Engaging Employees in the Screening Process
Don’t underestimate the importance of injury prevention education. Educate employees through workshops, informational sessions, and internal communications.
Highlight the benefits of FMS. Explain how the screening can help correct movement inefficiencies, reduce the risk of injuries, and promote workplace safety. Consider offering incentives to encourage your employees to participate in the program.
3. Measuring Success and ROI
Monitor key metrics, such as reduced injury rates, workers’ compensation claims, employee absenteeism, and productivity levels, to track the effectiveness of FMS.
Conduct regular interviews, ask for employee feedback, track participation rates, and collect data to calculate return on investment (ROI) and assess how FMS contributes to better organizational health.
Reduce Workplace Injuries With BIOKINETIX
Functional movement screening is a powerful tool in proactive injury prevention. By implementing it in your organization, you can identify and address movement deficiencies before they lead to costly injuries.
Our expert team at BIOKINETIX can help you conduct functional movement screening tests in your workplace and reduce the risk of injury.
Don’t wait for an injury to occur—schedule a no-cost analysis today to explore how our strategic services and personalized solutions can benefit you and your employees.
