Exploring Functional Movement and Balance in Young Female Athletes

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 499 - 506, 30.09.2025

Şükran İribalcı , Mert Aydogmus , Serkan Revan , Yetkin Utku Kamuk

https://doi.org/10.56639/jsar.1741574

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between functional movement screening (FMS) scores and balance performance in young female athletes across various sports disciplines. The sample comprised 27 girls aged 9 to 11 years with at least two years of consistent training in swimming, taekwondo, or volleyball. FMS scores were assessed alongside dynamic balance, measured using the Y-balance test, and static balance, measured using the Flamingo balance test. Given the non-normal distribution of the data, Spearman's rho was employed to examine correlations. Statistical significance was set at p<.05. Revealed no statisti-cally significant correlation between total FMS scores and performance on either the Y-balance test or the Flamingo balance test (p>.05). While a moderate negative correlation was observed between body mass index (BMI) and both in-line lunge performance and total FMS scores (p<.05), BMI did not correlate significantly with dynamic or static balance performance (p>.05). In conclu-sion, these findings suggest that functional movement screening scores are not significantly associated with static or dynamic balance in this cohort of young female athletes.

Keywords

Functional Movement Screen , Y-balance test , Flamingo balance test , Female Athletes.

References

• Arslan, Y., Yavaşoğlu, B., Beykumül, A., Pekel, Ö. A., Suveren, C., Karabulut, E. O., et al. (2024). The effect of 10 weeks of karate training on the development of motor skills in children who are new to karate. Frontiers in Physiology, 15, 1347403. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2024.1347403
• Bayrakdar, A., & Kılınç, B. H. (2020). The effect of functional movement screen and lower extremity training on hamstring/quadriceps ratio in football players. Physical Education of Students, 24(2), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.15561/20755279.2020.0202
• Butler, R. J., Lehr, M. E., Fink, M. L., Kiesel, B. K., & Plisky, P. J. (2013). Dynamic balance performance and noncontact lower extremity injury in college football players: An initial study. Sports Health, 5(5), 417–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738113498703
• Bramble, L. N., Kelly, J. D., Kitambala, C., & Wright, C. J. (2019). The relationship between body composition and dynamic and static balance testing of college-aged individuals. International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings, 7(1), 8.
• Campa, F., Piras, A., Raffi, M., & Toselli, S. (2019). Functional movement patterns and body composition of high-level volleyball, soccer, and rugby players. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 28(7), 740–745. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2018-0087
• Cook, G. (2003). Athletic body in balance (1st ed.). Human Kinetics.
• Cook, G., Burton, L., & Hoogenboom, B. (2006). Pre-participation screening: The use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function—Part 1. North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 1(2), 62–72.
• Cowen, V. S. (2010). Functional fitness improvements after a worksite-based yoga initiative. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 14(1), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.02.006
• Dick, R., Putukian, M., Agel, J., Evans, T. A., & Marshall, S. W. (2007). Descriptive epidemiology of collegiate women’s soccer injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association injury surveillance system, 1988–1989 through 2002–2003. Journal of Athletic Training, 42(2), 278–285.
• Duncan, M. J., & Stanley, M. (2012). Functional movement is negatively associated with weight status and positively associated with physical activity in British primary school children. Journal of Obesity, 2012, 697563. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/697563
• Fitton Davies, K., Sacko, R. S., Lyons, M. A., & Duncan, M. J. (2022). Association between functional movement screen scores and athletic performance in adolescents: A systematic review. Sports, 10(3), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10030028
• García-Pinillos, F., Roche-Seruendo, L. E., Delgado-Floody, P., Jerez-Mayorga, D., & Latorre-Román, P. A. (2018). Is there any relationship between functional movement and weight status? A study in Spanish school-age children. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 35(4), 805–810. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.1670
• Guzmán-Muñoz, E., Valdés-Badilla, P., Méndez-Rebolledo, G., Concha-Citernas, Y. F., & Retamal, M. C. (2018). Relationship between anthropometry and balance of postural control in children 6–9 years old. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 36(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.20960/nh.02072
• Gribble, P. A., Hertel, J., & Plisky, P. (2012). Using the star excursion balance test to assess dynamic postural-control deficits and outcomes in lower extremity injury: A literature and systematic review. Journal of Athletic Training, 47(3), 339–357. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-47.3.08
• Harshbarger, N., Anderson, B. E., & Lam, K. C. (2018). Is there a relationship between the functional movement screen, star excursion balance test, and balance error scoring system? Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 28(4), 389–394. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000465
• Hue, O., Simoneau, M., Marcotte, J., Berrigan, F., Doré, J., Marceau, P., et al. (2007). Body weight is a strong predictor of postural stability. Gait & Posture, 26(1), 32–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.07.005
• İribalcı, Ş., Aydoğmuş, M., Revan, S., & Genç, H. (2024). Relationship between functional movement screening (FMS) scores and balance and strength performance in young male athletes. Journal of Men’s Health, 20(12), 130. https://doi.org/10.22514/jomh.2024.208
• Joensuu, L., Kujala, U. M., Kankaanpää, A., Syväoja, H. J., Kulmala, J., Hakonen, H., et al. (2021). Physical fitness development in relation to changes in body composition and physical activity in adolescence. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 31(2), 456–464. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13847
• Kara, E., Öncen, S., Saǧiroǧlu, İ., & Dinçer, Ö. (2021). Relationship between functional movement screening with static balance scores of elite female wrestlers. International Journal of Applied Exercise Physiology, 10(2), 132–138. https://doi.org/10.20511/pyr2021.v9nSPE3.1283
• Kazman, J. B., Galecki, J. M., Lisman, P., Deuster, P. A., & O’Connor, F. G. (2014). Factor structure of the functional movement screen in Marine officer candidates. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(3), 672–678. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182a6dd83
• Kinzey, S. J., & Armstrong, C. W. (1998). The reliability of the star excursion test in assessing dynamic balance. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 27(5), 356–360. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1998.27.5.356
• Koźlenia, D., & Domaradzki, J. (2021). The impact of physical performance on functional movement screen scores and asymmetries in female university physical education students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8872. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168872
• Kumar, A., Kumar, M., Mahapatra, R. P., Bhattacharya, P., et al. (2023). Flamingo-optimization-based deep convolutional neural network for IoT-based arrhythmia classification. Sensors, 23(9), 4353. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23094353
• Lockie, R. G., Schultz, A. B., Callaghan, S. J., Jordan, C. A., Luczo, T. M., & Jeffriess, M. D. (2014). A preliminary investigation into the relationship between functional movement screen scores and athletic physical performance in female team sport athletes. Biology of Sport, 32(1), 41–51. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1127281
• Lockie, R. G., Callaghan, S. J., Jordan, C. A., Luczo, T. M., Jeffriess, M. D., Jalilvand, F., & Schultz, A. B. (2015). Certain actions from the functional movement screen do not provide an indication of dynamic stability. Journal of Human Kinetics, 47(1), 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2015-0058
• Misegades, J., Rasimowicz, M., Cabrera, J., Vaccaro, K., Kenar, T., DeLuccio, J., & Stapleton, D. (2020). Functional movement and dynamic balance in entry level university dancers. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 15(4), 548–556.
• Morán-Navarro, R., López-Gullón, J. M., Cruz-Sánchez, de la, E., Pallarés, J. G., & Valverde, A. (2015). Can balance skills predict Olympic wrestling performance? Journal of Sport and Health Research, 7(1), 19–30.
• Nicolozakes, C. P., Schneider, D. K., Roewer, B. D., Borchers, J. M., & Hewett, T. E. (2018). Influence of body composition on functional movement screen™ scores in college football players. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 27(5), 431–437. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2015-0080
• Okada, T., Huxel, K. C., & Nesser, T. W. (2011). Relationship between core stability, functional movement, and performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(1), 252–261. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b22b3e
• Okely, A. D., Booth, M. L., & Chey, T. (2004). Relationships between body composition and fundamental movement skills among children and adolescents. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 75(3), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2004.10609157
• Olmsted, L. C., Carcia, C. R., Hertel, J., & Shultz, S. J. (2002). Efficacy of the star excursion balance tests in detecting reach deficits in subjects with chronic ankle instability. Journal of Athletic Training, 37(4), 501–506.
• Pamuk, Ö., Makaracı, Y., Ceylan, L., Küçük, H., Kızılet, T., Ceylan, T., & Kaya, E. (2023). Associations between force-time related single-leg countermovement jump variables, agility, and linear sprint in competitive youth male basketball players. Children, 10(3), 427. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030427
• Perry, F. T., & Koehle, M. S. (2013). Normative data for the functional movement screen in middle-aged adults. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(2), 458–462. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182576fa6
• Sebastiá-Rico, J., Soriano, J. M., González-Gálvez, N., & Martínez-Sanz, J. M. (2023). Body composition of male professional soccer players using different measurement methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 15(5), 1160. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051160
• Sikora, D., & Linek, P. (2022). The relationship between the functional movement screen and the Y balance test in youth footballers. PeerJ, 10, e13906. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13906
• Song, I. Y., Seo, Y. S., & Kang, Y. H. (2020). Effects of 10-week body stability exercise program on functional movement and body balance of middle school volleyball players. The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy, 32(4), 203–209. https://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2020.32.4.203
• Şahin, F. N., Ceylan, L., Küçük, H., Ceylan, T., Arıkan, G., Yiğit, S., et al. (2022). Examining the relationship between pes planus degree, balance and jump performances in athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811602
• Teyhen, D. S., Shaffer, S. W., Lorenson, C. L., Greenberg, M. D., Rogers, S. M., Koreerat, C. M., et al. (2014). Clinical measures associated with dynamic balance and functional movement. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(5), 1272–1283. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000272
• Xie, M., Zhang, R., & Gong, Y. (2024). Risk assessment of FMS and YBT on sports injuries in collegiate athletes. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(3), 189–195. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2466-9920