Intrarater reliability of the functional movement screen

Abstract

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a tool that quantifies movement patterns as a way to detect performance asymmetries. Although previous study has investigated the reliability of FMS, no current research has examined intrarater reliability or how clinical experience plays a role in the reliability of this tool. In this controlled laboratory study design, repeated measures were used to investigate how experience using the FMS and clinical experience as an athletic trainer (AT) affects the intrarater reliability of FMS testing. Before the data collection, 3 individuals recruited from the university community provided signed informed consent to serve as videotaped models performing the FMS test. The participants (raters) in the study, with different levels of FMS and clinical experience, viewed each of the 3 videotaped models and rated the video models on each exercise of the FMS according to the script that was presented by one of the study investigators. A week later, the participants watched the same videos again, in a different randomized order, and rated each video model on each exercise. After the scores from the participants were collected from both sessions, the intersession scores of the FMS were examined to establish intrarater reliability of all the participants. Additionally, the intrarater reliability of different groups of clinicians and students was compared to make inferences about the influence of clinical experience as an AT along with previous experience using the FMS. The ATs with at least ± months of experience using the FMS (ATExp group) had the strongest intrarater reliability [intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC (2,1): 0.946], followed by the AT group with moderate reliability [ICC (2,1): 0.771]. This study indicates that intrarater reliability is strong and seems to strengthen when the individuals have experience using the FMS in addition to clinical experience. © 2013 National Strength and Conditioning Association.