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March 2014 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
Functional
Movement
Screen
Can Help
Eliminate
Injuries
By Clint Moore, Staff Writer
For many, the term sports injury
conjures up images of watching a
sporting event, and seeing an athlete
grimacing in pain following an injury.
And while injuries are common to
those who pursue organized athletic
glory, sports-related injuries can affect
everyone who is simply trying to
maintain an active, healthy lifestyle,
according to Dr. Stephen Karam with
KORT Physical Therapy.
“It is not uncommon at all to see
individuals that have some sort of
injury from living an active lifestyle,”
Karam says. “The nature of many
recreational activities require repetitive movements and ‘pounding’ on
pavement.”
But there is a way to help prevent
an injury from occurring by using the
Functional Movement Screen.
“Functional Movement Systems
has developed a movement pattern
test called the Functional Movement
Screen or FMS,” Karam says. “The
FMS is a seven-component grading
system that assesses functional movement patterns that are both compre-
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hensive and common to daily function
and sport/recreation.”
By screening for patterns, the FMS
helps to expose functional limitations
and movement asymmetries in a person’s upper extremities, lower extremities and trunk, which represent or are
closely related to some of the most
common injuries.
“Some of the most common injuries
that we see from an active lifestyle
would include upper or lower back
strain, plantar fasciitis, hip I.T Band
Syndrome and Patellar (knee cap)
dysfunction,” Karam says. “Once these
movement limitations and asymmetries are discovered, our Rehabilitation
Specialists can provide you with movements or exercises to work on called
‘corrective exercises.’”
The corrective exercises target need
areas for functional movement. “Using
your functional movement score
produced by the FMS as a baseline,
certified FMS professionals can then
re-test you a few weeks down the road
to track your progress,” Karam says.
“Ideally, at this time your functional
movement patterns will be significantly improved. The FMS may also be
used to assess potential risk for injury.”
According to Karam, research has
shown that if the individual receives a
score of 14 or less out of 21, then they
are at an increased risk for injury, but
that if the person has a score of 15 or
greater they are at no greater risk to
sustain an injury than the next person.
Each person is different, so the
corrective exercise program will
be catered to the individual’s need.
“These corrective exercises are very
specific to the needs of the individual
and the joint mobility/movement dysfunction that they have demonstrated,”
Karam says. “People improve faster
with customized exercises because it
addresses their exact deficits.”
Most insurances cover the FMS,
but Karam suggests checking with
your provider before being tested.
“If you are participating in physical
therapy already or planning to go to
physical therapy, the FMS would be
covered within the course of treatment
that coincides with their insurance
policy without a physician referral,”
Karam says. “If the individual wanted
to get an FMS test only, the cost is $40
and they would be encouraged to
contact their insurance provider and
ask if Injury Prevention Screens or
Functional Movement Screens would
be reimbursed through their Flexible
Spending Account or Health Savings
Account. Also, there are discounts for
groups of 10 or more available. We
have had groups of runners, dancers or
other athletes come in and get screening performed together.”
For more information regarding the
Functional Movement Screen, contact
your nearest KORT Physical Therapy
Center, or visit http://www.kort.com.