Better functional movement skills reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in male and female youth soccer players

This study examined the relationship between Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, a tool to assess ACL injury risk, in youth soccer players. Following institutional ethics approval and informed consent, 105 children (54 boys, 51 girls), 13-16 years of age (Mean ± SD = 14.2 ± 1.1 years) took part. ACL injury risk was determined using the LESS and the FMS used to assess functional movement performance. Pearson’s product moment relationships were significant between FMS and LESS for the whole sample, and boys and girls separately (all P<.001). Backwards linear multiple regression (P=.001, Adj R2 =.584) explained 58% of the variance in LESS scores with only FMS (P=.001) significantly contributing to the model. Chi2 analysis for the whole sample, for boys and girls separately (all P = .0001) indicated that children who were classed as ‘poor’ for the FMS were significantly more likely to be classified as poor for the LESS and children classed as good for the FMS were significantly more likely to be classed as excellent for the LESS. This study provides evidence to support that functional movement skills may be important in reducing high risk movement patterns associated with ACL injury in youth soccer.