The Association Between Clinical Measures of Movement Quality with Functional Performance Measures

Yamamoto, Alicia

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Last Modified

March 19, 2019

Creator

Yamamoto, Alicia
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Exercise and Sport Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between clinical measures of movement quality as it pertains to injury risk with functional performance measures. This study examined the associated of movement quality screenings with performance variables of speed, agility, lower body power, and core power tested through a 40-yard sprint, modified t-test, single-leg triple hop, and seated rotational medicine ball throw, respectively. This study used a correlational design. Movement quality was assessed using both dynamic (jump-landing) and slow-controlled (double and single leg squats) tasks. Movement errors were assessed during both the jump-landing and squat tasks using a standardized scoring rubric. Higher scores indicated more movement errors, hence worse movement quality. The participants were then asked to complete a 40-yard sprint, modified t-test, single-leg triple hop, and seated rotational medicine ball in a randomized order. Spearman’s order-rank correlations were used to determine the association between movement quality during the jump-landing and squat tasks with each of the functional performance measures. Dynamic movement quality, assessed using the LESS, was significantly associated with agility (modified t-test), lower body power (single-leg triple hop), and core power (seated rotational medicine ball throw). However, no such relationship was observed between movement quality assessed during the slow, more controlled squat tasks with functional performance measures. Movement quality during a more dynamic, max effort test is strongly associated with functional measures of performance. While movement quality during a more slow-controlled task is important for assessing neuromuscular characteristics associated with high injury risk movement patterns, these measures are not associated with functional measures of performance. Therefore, there is a need to assess movement quality across a continuum of tasks ranging from slow-controlled global body movements to high-energy, max effort specific tasks when examining an individual for both injury risk factors and performance associations.

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