The relationship of functional movement screen score with balance, core endurance, and musculoskeletal system injuries in CrossFit athletes.

Background: CrossFit training, which includes functional exercises and improves various physical parameters, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Since CrossFit is a high-intensity training program, injury rate and risk factors must be evaluated. This study aims to determine the relationship between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score and balance, core endurance, and musculoskeletal system injuries in CrossFit athletes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 52 CrossFit athletes. FMS assessed biomechanical abnormalities, fundamental movement patterns, and asymmetries in CrossFit athletes. Four different tests (trunk flexion, Biering Sorenson, lateral plank, and plank) with different positions were used to evaluate core endurance. The Y balance test was used to assess dynamic balance.

Results: The mean age of the 52 participants (21 female, 31 male) was 28.02±8.64 years, and their mean body mass index was 24.69±4.09 kg/m². The lumbar spine was the most commonly injured body part (19%), and the thoracic spine and knee were second (13%), followed by the knee and shoulder (10%). A relationship was found between injury and FMS composite (r=-0.338; P=0.014), deep squat (r=0.31; P=0.026), shoulder mobility (r=0.329; P=0.017), and rotary stability score (r=-0.297; P=0.032).

Conclusions: New screening tools such as FMS are essential in determining movement quality and its relationship with injury prevention and performance predictability. In addition, this study will guide corrective exercise programs drawn by physiotherapists according to the movement pattern determined by the screening results and safe and practical recommendations to prevent injuries.