Assessment of Functional Movement Patterns and Their Relationship with Physiological Indicators in Adults: A Study Based on the FMS Test

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Sport Science, School of Humanities, Damghan University, Iran

2 Department of Sport Science, School of Humanities, Damghan University, Damghan , Iran

10.22049/jahssp.2025.30528.1737

Abstract

Aim:       Functional movement quality plays a critical role in physical health, particularly among inactive adults with increased risks of obesity and cardiovascular dysfunction. This study aimed to examine the relationship between movement patterns assessed by the Functional Movement Screen and key physiological health indicators, including body mass index, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio, and maximal oxygen uptake, in a non-athletic adult population. Methods: 86 adults (55 men, 31 women; aged 35–60) from Damghan University participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was assessed using the GAIA bioelectrical impedance analyzer. VO₂max was estimated via the Queen’s College Step Test, and movement quality was evaluated with FMS, covering seven fundamental patterns. Pearson correlation and independent t-tests were used to analyze relationships and group differences. Results: FMS scores were negatively correlated with body mass index (p = 0.009) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.039), while VO₂max showed significant positive correlations with several FMS components (p < 0.01), particularly those related to flexibility and stability. Age showed a modest negative correlation with certain FMS tasks, such as shoulder mobility and leg raise. Female participants scored significantly higher in flexibility tasks, while males performed slightly better in upper-body strength tasks. Conclusions: Lower functional movement quality is linked to higher adiposity and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness. FMS can serve as a non-invasive screening tool to identify movement limitations and inform preventive strategies. Combining functional and physiological assessments can support the development of targeted exercise programs to improve health outcomes 

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References

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Journal of Applied Health Studies in Sport Physiology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 October 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 02 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 October 2025

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