Improved Functional Movement Skills Reduce Drop Landing Injury Risk Movement Patterns in Male and Female Youth Soccer Players

Michael Duncan; Jason Tallis; Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira; Ricardo M. G. Martins; Matteo Crotti; William Pattison; Raouf Hammami; Mark Lyons

doi:10.1123/pes.2025-0039

Improved Functional Movement Skills Reduce Drop Landing Injury Risk Movement Patterns in Male and Female Youth Soccer Players

Michael Duncan
, Jason Tallis
, Lucas Guimarães-Ferreira
, Ricardo M. G. Martins
, Matteo Crotti
, William Pattison
, Raouf Hammami
, Mark Lyons

Staffordshire University
University of Bergamo
Université de la Manouba
University of Limerick

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, a tool to assess anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk, in youth soccer players. Following institutional ethics approval and informed consent, 105 children (54 boys and 51 girls), 13-16 years of age (14.2 [1.1] y), took part. ACL injury risk was determined using the LESS and the FMS used to assess functional movement performance. Pearson product-moment relationships were significant between FMS and LESS for the whole sample and boys and girls separately (all P < .001). Backward linear multiple regression (P = .001, adjusted R2 = .584) explained 58% of the variance in LESS scores, with only FMS (P = .001) significantly contributing to the model. Chi-square analysis for the whole sample and 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	332-339
Number of pages	8
Journal	Pediatric Exercise Science
Volume	38
Issue number	3
Early online date	21 Nov 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2025-0039
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2026

Bibliographical note

© 2026 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

This document is the accepted manuscript, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.

Keywords

Motor Competence
ACL
, Pediatric Injury Prevention
Screening

Access to Document

10.1123/pes.2025-0039

Duncan2025AAMAccepted author manuscript, 517 KB
Manuscript PES AcceptedAccepted author manuscript, 76.4 KB

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examined the relationship between Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, a tool to assess anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk, in youth soccer players. Following institutional ethics approval and informed consent, 105 children (54 boys and 51 girls), 13-16 years of age (14.2 [1.1] y), took part. ACL injury risk was determined using the LESS and the FMS used to assess functional movement performance. Pearson product-moment relationships were significant between FMS and LESS for the whole sample and boys and girls separately (all P < .001). Backward linear multiple regression (P = .001, adjusted R2 = .584) explained 58\% of the variance in LESS scores, with only FMS (P = .001) significantly contributing to the model. Chi-square analysis for the whole sample and 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.",

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ER -

Improved Functional Movement Skills Reduce Drop Landing Injury Risk Movement Patterns in Male and Female Youth Soccer Players

Abstract

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