The relationship between individual and composite FMS™ score with the anthropometric and physical characteristics of elite Touch (rugby) players

Thorpe, Cari ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9673-062X, Dobbin, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7508-1683, Twist, Craig and Callaghan, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3540-2838 (2024) The relationship between individual and composite FMS™ score with the anthropometric and physical characteristics of elite Touch (rugby) players. Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise. ISSN 2096-6709

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Abstract

Purpose 1). To describe and compare the movement patterns, anthropometric and physical characteristics of male and female Touch players; and 2). to examine the relationships between Functional Movement Screening (FMS™) scores and the anthropometric and physical characteristics. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 35 elite Touch players (18 males, age=24.7±4.9 y and 17 females, age=26.7±5.2 y). Anthropometric (stature, body mass) and physical characteristics (sprint times, glycolytic change-of-direction test, and countermovement jump (CMJ) flight time and peak power) were assessed alongside movement patterns using the FMS™ battery. Data were analysed for between-sex differences (independent t-test, Mann Whitney U) and associations (Spearman’s correlation coefficient). Results Between-sex differences in body mass (t=6.082, p<0.001), stature (t=9.247, p<0.001), CMJ flight time (t=3.576, p=0.001), relative CMJ peak power (t=6.578, p<0.001), 10 m sprint time (t=15.861, p<0.001), glycolytic change of direction test time (t=-11.831, p<0.001) and Yo-Yo IR1 (t=6.842, p<0.001) were observed. There was minimal differences for deep squat (Z=-1.036, p=0.443), in-line lunge (Z=-1.284, p=0.303), shoulder mobility (Z=-0.173, p=0.883), trunk stability push-up (Z=-0.896, p=0.483) and rotary stability (Z=-1.537, p=0.273). The correlation between total and individual FMSTM scores with anthropometric and physical characteristics ranged from trivial-to-moderate (r=-0.502 to 0.488). Conclusion The lack of difference for the FMS™ composite score and small-to-trivial differences in individual scores allows a comparison between mixed populations within Touch. Whilst many of the correlations were trivial-to-small, there were differences between sexes in the associations and evidence that improvements in functional deficiencies could translate into improved physical performance.