The FMS Hurdle Step

The Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) is a common movement screen used in various performance and rehabilitation settings (9). Conceptually, the FMS is comprised of four fundamental movement patterns (active straight-leg raise, shoulder mobility screen, rotary stability, and trunk stability push-up) that assess basic mobility and motor control characteristics and three functional patterns (inline lunge, hurdle step, and overhead deep squat) that require a complimentary blend of mobility and motor control to perform optimally. In total, all seven patterns from the FMS offer personal trainers a quick screen that can provide insight into their client’s strengths and suggest areas of improvement with movement patterns that reflect common strength training exercises (e.g., single-leg step-up) (1). Specifically, FMS results can help the personal trainer determine the direction of the client’s training program. If a client has pain with basic movement patterns, a referral to a healthcare provider would be recommended (1). A central theme of FMS research has been the ability of the movement screen to predict injury via the overall composite score calculation (7). A common conclusion found in FMS research is the limited ability of the FMS composite score to predict injury/athletic performance, which raises questions about the need for a focus on the individual movement patterns of the FMS and movement asymmetries, as compared to a global focus on the composite score (7,9). Specifically, a current limitation in the present FMS research is a more intimate exploration of each individual pattern and the unique screening and corrective exercise integration decisions relevant to the personal training industry. Therefore, this article is the second in a planned series to review essential considerations of each FMS pattern. This article will examine the FMS hurdle step (HS) pattern in greater detail to help personal trainers with minimal FMS experience better understand the pattern, consistently identify movement compensations, and effectively integrate HS corrective exercises into their current training programs.

This article originally appeared in Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ)—a quarterly publication for NSCA Members designed specifically for the personal trainer. Discover easy-to-read, research-based articles that take your training knowledge further with Nutrition, Programming, and Personal Business Development columns in each quarterly, electronic issue. Read more articles from PTQ »

Efficacy of the Functional Movement Screen: A Review