Often we think of a push up as an upper body exercise without considering the importance of the core. However, during your Functional Movement Screen (FMS) you perform the Trunk Stability Push-up to assess your reflex core stabilization.  The purpose is not to screen upper body strength. This allows us to see if there is inappropriate movement in your spine or hips by way of extension or rotation. When there is we know you are compensating and the muscles that move you (movers) engage before your stabilizers. This process, movers before stabilizers, is backwards. This video shows how the trunk stability push up test is performed.

Implications of a low Trunk Stability Push-up score

• Your hip and thoracic spine mobility affects your ability to accomplish the correct starting position. This leads to poor performance during the trunk stability push-up movement pattern.
• Limited performance during the trunk-stability push up can be associated with poor reflex stabilization of the core.
• Poor upper-body strength and/or scapular stability leads to poor performance on this test.

What is the Clearing Test?

During your Functional Movement Screen you’ll perform a press up clearing test.  Your clearing test is a + when there is pain and a – when no pain is produced. When the clearing test is + the entire trunk stability test is given a score of 0 and we recommend you see our doctor.

Mobility first, Static Motor Control second, and Dynamic Motor Control third

We believe there is an ideal sequence to perfecting movement patterns and it begins with optimal mobility. The reason is quality stability is driven by quality proprioception and is not possible with limited mobility. Once you have mobility down, you’ll start to train stability and motor control. You will start with static stability and motor control first. This is based on proper coordination and reflexes not ‘strength’. Once you gain static stability, you will progress to dynamic stability and motor control. Stability exercises focuses on postural control of starting and ending positions within a specific movement. We tend to think more about timing and fine-tuned control versus strength and force when assisting your stability and motor control. To understand more about motor control please read this excellent article written by physical therapist Gray Cook, the founder of FMS.

Schedule your Functional Movement Screen today!

Please call the office at 970-712-6059 to schedule your Functional Movement Screen with either Dr. Christianson or Alyssa.