Upper body mobility and control are fundamental to many movements throughout our everyday lives. Our ability to carry, push, pull, reach overhead, and even walk is influenced by the upper body reciprocal pattern and upper limb mobility and control. We screen the Reciprocal Upper Body pattern with the Shoulder Mobility Screen, looking at coordination of the thoracic spine, scapula, and control of the shoulder and upper limbs.

Continuing our Functional Movement Screen (FMS) series, this week we demonstrate Shoulder Mobility. This marks the fourth of seven movement screens used as part of a scoring system to determine a body’s readiness to engage in higher level physical activities in the weight room and on the field. The FMS screen is NOT a training tool or exercise guide. It is comprised of movement patterns that require mobility and stability. These movements were specifically designed to place clients in positions where weaknesses, imbalances, asymmetries and limitations become noticeable by a trained fitness professional.