By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
The Merrill High School football team has teamed up with Physical Therapist and MHS Athletic Trainer, Anthony Gerlach to use the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). The FMS is an objective tool that measures seven fundamental movement patterns that are key in daily life. By using the FMS, professionals can determine whether your movements are optimal, acceptable or dysfunctional, and based on your score give personalized stretches and exercises to help that movement pattern.
The FMS will test the following movement patterns: deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability push up and rotary stability.
“I use the FMS at my clinic and it’s great,” Gerlach said. “For example, if a patient has a dysfunctional squat we can assess if the problem is the ankle, knee or hip and treat the area until it results in better movement.”
The Merrill football team will use the FMS as a tool to decrease injuries caused by lack of movement/flexibility, and also increase performance by identifying players’ personal needs and prioritizing exercises to accommodate those needs.
Being the only therapist in the area offering the FMS, Gerlach plans to use this as a tool for all Merrill athletics, as well as use it at his clinic.