Abstract: Objective: The validity of the Functional Movement Screening (FMS^TM) in predicting sports injuries has been questioned. However, it has not been determined if FMS^TM is valid in predicting injuries in speed skating athletes. In addition, it is unknown if FMS scores are related to core stability, dynamic posture control and performance level of elite speed skating athletes.Methods: Twenty-two elite short track speed skating athletes (10M,12F; mean age:19.4±2.5years old; mean height:173.3±6.1cm; mean weight:64.4±7.5kg) were recruited. Thirteen competed internationally (G1) and 9 competed nationally (G2). Athletes performed FMS, Y-Balance test, core muscle strength test and knee isokinetic muscle strength test at the beginning of the season, and injuries were clinically diagnosed and recorded at the end of the season. Pearson's correlation was used to examine the relationship among the measures. One-way ANOVA was employed to determine between-group differences.Results: (1) Fourteen athletes were injured in knee, low back, neck or thoracic spine during the subsequent competitive season.(2) Between knee injured and non-injured groups, there was significant difference in knee extension eccentric peak torque(F=8.240, P=0.009), knee flexion concentric peak torque(F=5.766, P=0.026), knee flexion eccentric peak torque(F=6.941, P=0.016) and trunk lateral flexion imbalance rate(F=13.396,P=0.002). Between low back injured and non-injured groups, there was a significant difference in trunk flexion strength (F=5.008,P=0.037). (3) FMS scores were not significantly correlated with any of the measures (all P>0.05) (4) ANOVA showed that FMS scores were not significantly different between injury and non-injured groups (F=0.002,P>0.05)and there was no significant difference in FMS scores between G1 and G2 (F=0.270,P>0.05)Discussion: Knee strength and core strength were significantly associated with subsequent knee and lower back injuries. However, FMS scores were not significantly correlated with subsequent injuries, core stability, dynamic posture control and performance level of elite speed skating athletes. Thus, the findings here do not support FMS be used as a tool for predicting the risk of injury in short track speed skating athletes.

Key words: functional movement screen, predict, elite short track speed skating athletes, sports injury, validity