Interrater Reliability of Functional Movement Screening Test among Untrained Undergraduate Raters Undergoing a One-off Training Session

Abstract

Background: Functional Movement Screen (FMS)™ can be a valuable tool for assessing movement patterns and identifying potential movement dysfunctions. However, it is limited in terms of subjectivity and consistency of the ratings, especially among less proficient raters. Knowledge of minimally required training thresholds will provide valuable information on training adequacy. Thus, this study aimed to determine the interrater reliability of FMS™ among completely novice raters undergoing a one-off training session. Methods: Twenty active adults with no musculoskeletal injuries or muscular dysfunction performed seven FMS™ tasks while being recorded. Subsequently, 12 novice raters with no prior knowledge and skills about FMS™ rated the recorded movement videos at a normal play speed and without rewinding. Results: The interrater reliability analysis of the composite FMS™ score revealed an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.60. Moreover, the mean coefficient for interrater reliability for the seven FMS™ components score is 0.35. Conclusion: The results implied that a one-off FMS™ training produced a large variability in the rating consistency, especially for rotary stability, deep squats, and in-line lunge ratings.