Reliability of the functional movement screen: a systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.116328Keywords:
Functional movement screen , physical functional performance, reliability, reproducibility of resultsAbstract
Introduction: Movement screening tests are used as tools to assess individuals’ movement capacity in specific situations. The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening test composed of a battery of functional tests employed to evaluate movement patterns considered fundamental.
Objectives: To evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the total scores of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
Methodology: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines in databases related to movement analysis, with the aim of gathering primary sources on the reliability of the FMS. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched between June 16, 2024, and October 26, 2024. Studies reporting intra- or inter-rater reliability of the total FMS scores were included.
Results: Thirteen articles were included. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values for inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.76 to 0.96, classified as excellent. For intra-rater reliability, most studies reported ICCs above 0.75, also classified as excellent. Video-based and in-person assessments showed similar reliability results. Evaluator experience was not shown to be a determining factor. The use of two raters proved sufficient to achieve excellent reliability. Methodological quality was low, with only one article achieving a score above 60% on the QAREL scale.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate trends that may indicate the FMS as a tool with good inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, despite methodological limitations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 João Vitor de Souza Moreira, Matheus Grandeni de Oliveira Pires, João Guilherme Vieira da Silva, Guilherme de Jesus do Nascimento, Camille dos Reis Molina, Jeferson Macedo Vianna, Jefferson da Silva Novaes, José Vilaça-Alves, Aline Aparecida de Souza Ribeiro, André Calil e Silva
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