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

Abstract

Objectives:To test 9+ screening batterie's intra-rater reliability, to provide indicative data of elite handball players, and to analyze difference between age, playing positions and level of play. Design: Descriptive studySetting: Icelandic elite male handball players Participants: 182 elite male handball players. Main Outcome Measures: Nine+ screening battery.Results: Reliability test: Intra-class correlation for the total score was 0.95. The correlation of each of the test factors varied from 0.63 to 0.91. The mean total score was 22.3±2.9 (95%CI 16.7-28.1), with no difference in total score comparing players age or level of play. Goalkeepers displayed a higher total score than other players (F3,151=5.75, p=0.001). Junior players had a lower score than senior players in tests measuring abdominal strength and core stability; Test 5;  2 (3, 182)=41.5, p<0.0001, Test 6;  2 (3, 182)=55.7, p<0.0001, Test 7;  2 (3, 182)=11.8, p<0.005, but higher scores in tests measuring trunk and shoulder mobility Test 8;  2 (3, 182)=18.2, p<0.0001, Test 9;  2 (3, 182)=22.2, p=0.006. Conclusions:The 9+ intra-rater reliability was acceptable for the total score and individual tests. Age-related differences were provided in many individual tests.

No relationship between a movement screening test and risk of overuse problems in low back, shoulder, and knee in elite handball players—A prospective cohort study

“…Most of the screening tests, including the 9+ test measure physical performance characteristics like strength, mobility, and stability 23 —all representing modifiable variables, believed to be intrinsic risk factors 24 . Most of the tests use total score to assess injury risk, where a high score (better performance) is interpreted as low risk of injury 15‐17 . The screening tests do not account for factors like age and history of previous injuries—non‐modifiable factors believed to be two of the strongest risk factors for injuries in sports 21,25,26 .…”

“…Their demographic values were identical to the original cohort. The players performed each of the ten tests once 15 . The 9+ tests total score was calculated for each player and used to assess possible associations with OP and SOP.…”

“…The high number of injuries in sports havs been a source of concern for many researchers who are attempting to develop methods that may have a positive impact on injury risk. One of these methods is movement screening tests, used in various sports as tools to identify players with an increased risk for injury based on their test profile, that aim to prescribe preventive measures at the individual level 14,15 . A low score on Functional Movement Screening Test (FMS) has been claimed to be associated with a higher injury risk, 16 while other studies have failed to show a relationship between injury risk and FMS scores 17,18 or pain 19 .…”