Influence of exercise interventions on functional movement screen scores in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Researchers pooled data from 40 trials involving 1,604 athletes to see whether different types of exercise training could improve scores on the Functional Movement Screen, a test that measures how well athletes move and flags potential injury risks. They found that most exercise approaches did improve these movement scores, with some types working somewhat better than others. Core stability training showed the largest gains, followed closely by neuromuscular training and resistance training.

The authors were cautious about their conclusions, noting that while improving movement scores might help reduce injuries, we don't yet know for certain that better FMS scores always lead to fewer injuries or better athletic performance. The evidence for most interventions was rated as moderate certainty, meaning the findings are reasonably solid but not airtight.

A research team looked at whether different types of training could help athletes move better and reduce injury risk. They studied 40 separate training trials involving over 1,600 athletes total and measured changes in a movement screening test called the Functional Movement Screen.

Most types of training did lead to improvements in how well athletes moved, particularly exercises focused on core strength, neuromuscular control, and resistance work. These improvements appeared fairly consistent across the studies reviewed, which is reassuring.

That said, the researchers were honest about uncertainty: improving movement scores on a test doesn't automatically guarantee fewer injuries or better performance, and more research is needed to understand how these benefits actually play out for different athletes. The evidence suggests that targeted movement training can help, but it's not a guaranteed injury prevention solution.

This is a summary of research, not medical advice. Talk to your own healthcare provider about anything affecting your care.

This meta-analysis adds reasonably solid evidence that multiple exercise modalities can shift FMS scores meaningfully. Core stability training produced the largest pooled effect (roughly 2.9 points on the FMS scale), with neuromuscular and resistance training close behind (around 2.3 and 2.2 points respectively).

Integrated and functional training showed smaller but still meaningful gains in the 1.7 to 1.9 point range. The heterogeneity statistics suggest these effects are fairly consistent across studies, with most I-squared values below 50%, which strengthens confidence in the pooled estimates.

The authors appropriately flagged an important limitation: improved FMS scores do not automatically predict reduced injury rates or performance gains, and that link remains incompletely understood. The evidence rating is moderate certainty for most interventions, which reflects good methodology but suggests further research would help clarify how FMS improvements translate to real-world injury outcomes in specific athlete populations.