Are the functional movement analysis scores of handball players related to athletic parameters?

Abstract

Handball is a popular sport in many countries. There is lack of knowledge about handball athlete’s functional movement capacity. The aim of this study is to investigate the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) scores, to evaluate the injury risks of handball athletes and to determine its relationship with athletic performance. A total of 51 professional handball players were included in this study. The sport-specific features and demographic data were recorded. The functional movement analysis was performed, agility and balance and force were evaluated. 37 were females and 14 were males. The mean age 21.00±4.50 years (range, 16–35 years). The mean FMS scores of handball athletes were 12.86±2.57. In addition, asymmetries were found between the left and right side FMS scores. There was a statistically significant poor correlation between the FMS and agility (r=0.292, P=0.038) and balance (right: r=0.224, P=0.024; left: r=0.228, P=0.022). Handball is a risky sport for injuries; therefore, athletes, coaches, and medical staff should recognize about the removal of functional deficiency before performance training. The FMS is a useful and cost-effective approach to identify these deficiencies. It is necessary not only to prevent injuries, but also to improve performance. These tests must be done before every season and, then, corrective, medical, or conservative approaches may be applied to athletes before performance training. (Clinical Trial ID: NCT03468569)

The Functional Movement Screen total score and physical performance in elite male collegiate soccer players

“…Accordingly, it can be viewed that agility is important to effectively execute such movements that are required frequently during a match. In the present study, higher FMS total scores were associated with higher values in the arrowhead agility test, which was consistent with the findings of Atalay et al (2018) and Lloyd et al (2015). Atalay et al (2018) reported that the FMS total scores for handball players have a significant negative correlation with the Illinois agility test values.…”

“…In the present study, higher FMS total scores were associated with higher values in the arrowhead agility test, which was consistent with the findings of Atalay et al (2018) and Lloyd et al (2015). Atalay et al (2018) reported that the FMS total scores for handball players have a significant negative correlation with the Illinois agility test values. According to Lloyd et al (2015), reactive agility of soccer players has a significant negative correlation not only with the FMS total score, but also with deep squat, hurdle step, and in-line lunge scores.…”

“…In contrast, it is still questionable as to whether the FMS total scores of athletes are actually associated with their physical performance. While some studies suggest that athletes’ FMS total scores of are significantly associated with their physical performance (Atalay et al, 2018; Lloyd et al, 2015), others have reported contradicting results, indicating no association between the two (Silva et al, 2017). Moreover, these studies were based on populations that differed greatly from one another, for example, the participants investigated by Atalay et al (2018), Silva et al (2017), and Lloyd et al (2015) consisted of handball players, surfers, and young soccer players aged 11–16 years, respectively.…”

“…The Functional Movement Screen (FMS), which was developed by a physical therapist, Gray Cook, is a tool used to assess functional movement deficiencies based on proprioception, mobility, and stability (Cook et al, 2014; Frost et al, 2012; Kiesel et al, 2007). The FMS test is widely used for onsite assessment, owing to its characteristics of being low cost, simple, and noninvasive (Atalay et al, 2018). Surveys have confirmed that the FMS is the most commonly used method for establishing injury prevention strategies or testing injury risk in players belonging to soccer leagues in the United States and Australia (McCall et al, 2014).…”

Characteristics of functional movement screening testing in elite handball players: Indicative data from the 9+

“…Specific exercises based on the 9+ screening battery did not reduce short-term and seasonal injury occurrence in adolescent elite athletes (34) . However, the FMS and 9+ tests have been used considerably by coaches and physical therapists to screen for asymmetries and imbalance (35) and as a tool to measure physical capacity of athletes aimed to improve their performance, (36) in a field where more knowledge regarding physical conditions is continually required (37,38) .…”