The Functional Movement Screen as a Predictor of Tactical Athlete Performance

Introduction: The occupational performance of tactical athletes, like police officers, is influenced by task requirements that impose significant physiological stressors on the body. The aim of this study was to determine whether poor movement patterns impact on tactical athlete occupational performance.
Methods: Fifty-three volunteers were randomly selected from 173 police recruits attending basic training. These tactical athletes completed the Functional Movement Screen and four occupational measures to determine if a relationship exists between movement and occupational task performance.
Results: Functional Movement Screen scores ranged from 8 to 18 points (mean = 13.96 ±1.99 points). Of the occupational measures 11% failed marksmanship and baton strike assessments, 21% failed defensive tactics and 36% failed tactical options. Only the tactical options assessment approached significance (p = 0.077). When the Functional Movement Screen was graded as pass (14+) or fail (<14), similar results were found with tactical options being the only occupational assessment to approach significance (p = 0.057). 
Discussion: While movement quality may be a useful tool in predicting the potential for injury in athletes and tactical athletes, its use as a predictor of occupational task performance may be limited. Considering this, a relationship between movement performance and the tactical options a tactical athlete selects to control a belligerent may exist.
Conclusions and take home message: The results of this study suggest that a relationship between a tactical athlete’s movement patters and choice of tactical movement options may exist.