Association between Functional Movement Screening™ scores and non-contact injuries in amateur rugby players

Objective: To examine the associations between the Functional Movement Screening (FMS™) scores and asymmetries between limbs in the different tasks with non-contact injuries in senior amateur rugby union players. Method The design was a prospective cohort study. Sixty-eight ( n = 68) male senior amateur rugby players completed the FMS™, which assesses seven functional movements on a scale of 0 to 3 and provides a total score of up to 21. Players were subsequently monitored for injuries during one competitive season. Likewise, match and training non-contact injuries with the associated variables were collected. Results: Twenty-two (32.3%) players sustained one non-contact injury during the season. The median time lost was 24.5 days (IQR [15; 383]). Injured players showed a mean FMS™ composite of 14.50(SD 1.74), and non-injured showed a mean FMS™ composite of 14.57(SD 2.25). No statistically significant association was found between the presence of non-contact injuries and FMS™ composite score (OR = 0.98 [0.77; 1.27]) or FMS™ categorical score (≤ 14) (OR = 0.64 [0.23; 1.78]). The presence of an asymmetry between limbs in the active straight leg raise was associated with non-contact injuries (OR: 4.69 [1.35 - 17.9]) ( p = 0.02). Conclusion: FMS™ composite did not show differences between injured and non-injured players. Asymmetry in the active straight leg raise was strongly associated with non-contact injury occurrence.