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Should You Screen Kids?

Written by Gray Cook FMS Pod Casts

The Functional Movement Screen is an excellent tool for adolescents by capturing movement patterns and the quality of movement.  With the screen findings, there is an opportunity to identify the individual's priority pattern, giving direction to our exercise prescription. 

Exercise is an opportunity to improve movement, but first we need to know which exercises would be the most important.  Working on strength and flexibility in isolation does not make movement better. Screening removes guessing from the table and provides direction to the best choices for that person. With kids, it is important to monitor developmental changes and prepare them for success as they move into higher level exercises and athletics.

Listen in as FMS Co-founder, Gray Cook, shares his perspective screening and having a positive effect on the adolescent population.
 

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5 Comments

  • author

    Marko Beljaković 3/23/2015 3:09:43 PM

    Hello Mr. Cook,


    Amazing article....

    Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.....8-)

    Marko Beljaković

  • author

    Ramon 3/26/2015 3:02:55 PM

    I was at Mike Robertsons Performance Enhancement Seminar and one of the presenters discussed how many athletes do have limitations or assyemtries (Usian Bolt was his example) but that some times these Deficiencies aid in their athletic performance and if corrected could possibly hinder thei performance because they have trained with that deficiency their entire athletic career.  He suggested if you were Usians strength coach and by fixing a pattern you added some time on his 100m time that you would be fired immediately. In my mind I though by developing the cortect pattern and then training in it would lead back to their original performance standards.  Although, he suggested that some times their deficiency is what enhances their performance.  What's your take on this notion?

  • author

    FMS Support 3/26/2015 3:20:16 PM

    Ramon,


    Gray referred to athletes and other individuals in his article, Functional Dysfunction and stated: "It's absolutely true: You can be dysfunctional and still function.  Just don't plan on changing too much because your body has spent a long time getting to that function."
     
    As I am sure Mike addressed, many athletes have spent their lives training to perform at the highest levels, such as Usian Bolt.
     
    Gray also stated in Functional Dysfunction, "If people are very satisfied with everything in their lives," (as Usian Bolt is probably pretty satisfied with world records, Olympic Gold Medals, and World Championship Gold Medals), "and we find a flaw on the movement screen, the responsible thing is to say, 'This is a dysfunction.  It puts you at risk for injury and it reduces your adaptability, but if you're never going to do anything more than you're already doing, probably your best defense right now is never change anything.'"
     
    For more, please refer to the article Functional Dysfunction.
     
    FMS Support

  • author

    Tan 3/27/2015 8:26:38 PM

    Hi Just like to know how  early/ what age we can start assessing kids involved in sports / fitness.

  • author

    FMS Support 3/27/2015 8:29:54 PM

    Tan,

    A good rule of thumb is if they are playing competitive sports or in a fitness program, then they should be screened. 

    FMS Support