A Preliminary Study Investigating Functional Movement Screen Test Scores in Novice and Advanced Female Show Jumping Riders

Abstract

9 The functional movement screen (FMS) is an easily administered and non-invasive tool to identify areas 10 of weakness and asymmetry during specific exercises. FMS is a common method of athlete screening in 11 many sports and is used to ascertain injury risk, but has to be used within an equestrian population. The 12 aim of this study was establish FMS scores for Novice and Advanced Female Show Jumping Riders, to 13 inform a normative data set of FMS scores in horse riders in the future. 14 Twenty-two female show jumping horse riders (mean age 21.5 yrs.). Twelve riders competing at 80cm 15 and below were the 'novice' group and ten riders in the 'advanced' group competing at 125cm, were 16 assessed based on their performance on a 7-point FMS (deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder 17 mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability and rotary stability). The mean composite FMS scores 18 (± s.d.) for the novice rider group was 12.08 ± 2.7 and for the advanced riders was 14.08 ± 1.77. There 19 was a statistical significant difference in median FMS composite scores between the novice show 20 jumping rider and advanced show jumping rider groups (Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.004). One hundred 21 percent of novice show jumping riders and 50% of advanced show jumping riders scored ≤14, indicating 22 that a novice rider is 2 times (O.R.) more likely to be at increased risk of injury compared to advanced 23 riders. 24 Advanced show jumping riders scored higher than novice riders but both groups scored lower than seen 25 in other sports suggesting some show jumping riders may be at risk of injury. Riders' FMS scores 26 demonstrated asymmetric movement patterns potentially limiting left lateral movement. Asymmetry has 27 a potential impact on equestrian performance, limiting riders' ability to apply the correct cues to the 28 horse. The findings of such screening could inform the development of ancillary training programmes 29 to correct asymmetry pattern and target injury prevention. 30 31