Functional Movement ScreenTM scores in young basketball players

Aim: In recent years there has been an increase of children who participate in sport activities4 and with them an amount of injuries: one of the most common trauma is the Osgood Schlatter (OS)2. Many factors may be involved, such as muscles imbalances, poor flexibility, postural misalignment. Recent researches suggested that a better functional movement is associated with reduced injury rates3. The purpose is to provide accessible data about using the Functional Movement ScreenTM 1 which investigates simultaneously balance, flexibility, strength and motor control. Method: 18 male regional-level basketball players (15±1 yrs, 60±1 kg, 171±0.5 cm, 20.5±1.3 kg/m2) were recruited: with OS (n=7) and Healthy (n=11). All subjects participated to FMSTM. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine differences due to the rank-order nature of the data. Results: Differences in the physical condition of the groups were pointed out by FMSTM: Healthy subjects performed better on hurdle step, in line lunge, shoulder mobility and trunk stability push up compared to adolescents with OS (p<.05; p<.005). Instead deep squat, active straight leg raise and rotary stability show no variations. Significant differences (p<.005) were also reported in the composite score (12.2±3 H vs. 7±1 OS). Conclusion: Young basketball players can exhibit different movement profiles. Subjects with OS are less in balance, have minor motor control and poor thoracic mobility. This could be attributed to the syndrome which leads to an uncomfortable situation with a limited functional dynamic coordination. For a basketball player, for whom is important to be strong, in balance and flexible, the FMSTM could be an easy strategy to evaluate and train the quality of movements during the growth period5.