How FMS Could Have Prevented My Career Ending Volleyball Injury

FMS: HOW I COULD HAVE PREVENTED MY VOLLEYBALL CAREER ENDING INJURY WITH THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN

WHAT IS THE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN?

FMS is an innovative system used to evaluate movement pattern quality for athletes. The screen is comprised of seven fundamental movement patterns that require a balance of mobility and stability and places the individual in positions where weaknesses and imbalances become noticeable.  It is used throughout the world in every major sport and by more than 50 U.S. professional and collegiate teams, including our very own Seattle Seahawks. The link below further explains the Functional Movement Screen and demonstrates the movements.

HOW CAN FMS BENEFIT YOU, YOUR CHILD, OR ATHLETE?

-Improves efficiency, durability and performance

- Easily identifies movement limitations and dysfunction

-Provides an enhanced foundation for exercise and performance programming

- A consistent and reliable testing method

Movement quality is an essential component to reducing the risk of injury and reaching optimal levels of performance.

PREVENTING INJURY IN YOUNG ATHLETES IS MY PASSION

Being a former collegiate volleyball athlete, who has experienced a career ending shoulder injury, could have prevented injury with the Functional Movement Screen. I have made my career out of my personal experience with my shoulder. I am a Physical Therapist Assistant and have rehabbed many athletes, ranging from high school athletes to volunteering at the AVP working on beach volleyball Olympians. Volleyball is a passion of mine. During my free time I am also a volleyball coach. I have coached for over 8 years and have seen many unnecessary injuries in my players. My goal as a volleyball coach and clinician is to take advantage of every opportunity to test my athletes and make sure they are moving correctly, and optimally in order to prevent any unnecessary injury.

MY PERSONAL STORY WITH INJURY

My childhood consisted of playing soccer, softball, basketball and swimming. My first love was soccer. I played select for a number of years and wanted to grow up to be just like Mia Hamm. I was always one of the tallest girls in my class, so it was natural that the volleyball coach tried to recruit me for the school team. I always said no because I refused to wear the team uniform, which consisted of volleyball spandex. Finally, after two years of asking me to join the team, the volleyball coach got her wish. I agreed to try volleyball, but didn’t think I would like it. Little did I know, after the very first practice, in which I still remember by forearms being sore, I would fall in love with the sport. I could not wait to get to practice, I would show up 45 min early to help set up nets, run extra sprints, I would do whatever it took to become a better player. I played in high school for Archbishop Murphy, in Mill Creek, where I made the all-state team. This is where I had my first shoulder surgery during my senior year of high school. I had a good amount of D2-D3 college offers, but due to my surgery my senior year I ended up playing at Bellevue College. My thought was so rehab and get back to, or be an even better player than I was pre-injury. The next step was to get recruited out of Bellevue College, to a D2 University. In reality, I played one season and required a second shoulder surgery. From there I rehabbed my shoulder but ultimately it was too painful to play, and I decided to end my collegiate career. By this time, I have had two extensive shoulder surgeries and my volleyball career was over, all before the age of 20.

This experience is where I get to make sure I can do everything in my power to prevent this from happening to other players. If I had a coach that also had the resources like FMS, I believe I would not have had the career ending shoulder injury. FMS would have assessed and identified my movement patterns that could have predicted and prevented my injury. I have an ambition to make this available specifically to volleyball athletes.

We have FMS trained practitioners at all our clinics. Any Questions, please reach out to the clinic nearest you!