Convergent validity of the functional movement screen regarding stability and joint mobility: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction

The Functional Movement Screen is a clinical tool that evaluates stability and joint mobility. This systematic review aims to analyze the convergent validity of the Functional Movement Screen regarding stability and joint mobility, i.e., the association between the Functional Movement Screen scores and the results of other tests that evaluate stability and/or joint mobility.

Methods

Review conducted according to PRISMA Guidelines. The databases MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL Complete, and SportDiscus were accessed. The search included articles published between January 1st^, 1998 and July 5th^, 2022. Inclusion criteria for the articles were: peer reviewed conference proceedings abstracts or scientific journals articles that related the Functional Movement Screen scores with the results of other instruments that evaluate stability and/or joint mobility. No restrictions regarding language. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included articles.

Results

A total of 718 studies were identified. Only 43 studies were included. All studies presented weak methodological quality. Most studies revealed no significant correlations between the Functional Movement Screen scores and the results of other tests that evaluate stability and joint mobility. Few studies identified high correlations.

Discussion

High correlations between FMS scores and the results of other tests are scarce. Most studies revealed no significant correlations. The nonexistence of high correlations might be due to lack of quality of comparison measures. Future research using gold-standard methods is needed.

Conclusion

Functional Movement Screen does not appear to have convergent validity regarding the assessment of stability and joint mobility.