Functional and injury-prevention tests: complete guide (17 tests)

If you do a postural or mobility assessment and stop there, you're missing an important piece: how the body moves and responds in dynamic situations (jumping, decelerating, changing direction, balancing on one leg, standing up from a chair). That's where functional and injury-prevention tests come in.

This block brings together 17 very different tests, from quick movement screens (FMS) to specific eccentric strength tests (Nordic), jump-landing control (Drop Vertical Jump), or functional capacity in older adults (SPPB). What they have in common is their action-oriented focus: they tell you what to work on, with whom, and, in many cases, what injury risk to keep an eye on.

Why run functional and prevention tests?

Three main reasons:

1. Detect injury risk before it happens (knee valgus on landing, eccentric strength asymmetries, poor trunk control)
2. Adapt training to the real population: what a rehab specialist needs to assess in a soccer player has nothing to do with what a geriatric specialist needs with an older adult
3. Have an objective starting point for corrective or preventive programs, and be able to show with data — not just impressions — that they're working

None of these tests replace a medical diagnosis. They are screening and tracking tools, meant to guide training decisions.

The 17 tests in this block

Test	When to use it
Reaction Time Test	To assess neuromuscular response speed, useful in sports with fast stimuli and in older adults (fall risk)
Gait Analysis Test	To detect gait pattern abnormalities in rehab, geriatrics, or after a lower-body injury
Functional Capacity Test for Older Adults (SPPB)	To get an overall picture of functional capacity and frailty risk in older adults
Side Hop Test	To assess unilateral control and power in the frontal plane, widely used in return to sport after injury
Eccentric Quadriceps Control Test (step down)	To assess closed-chain eccentric lower-body control, useful for the knee and rehab
Stair Climb Test (functional step test)	For a quick functional assessment of cardiorespiratory and lower-body capacity
Trunk Control Test	To assess baseline lumbopelvic stability, especially for low back pain
30-Second Sit to Stand Test	To assess functional lower-body strength, widely used in older adults and rehab
Hurdle Step Test	To assess control of the standing and swinging leg in a step pattern, part of the FMS
Crossover Hop Test	To assess power, control, and between-leg symmetry, common in return-to-sport criteria after ACL injury
Rotational Stability Test	To assess core control in the transverse plane, part of the FMS
Deep Squat Assessment (FMS)	For a quick screen of overall ankle, hip, and shoulder mobility, part of the FMS
Eccentric Hamstring Strength Test (Nordic)	To assess and prevent hamstring injuries in sports involving sprinting
Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test	To assess shoulder stability and control in single-arm support
Split Squat Assessment	To assess mobility and unilateral control in a lunge pattern
Drop Vertical Jump Test (landing control)	To assess neuromuscular landing control and ACL injury risk
Heel Drop Test (ankle mobility and strength)	To assess eccentric strength and ankle mobility, useful in runners and Achilles tendinopathies

How to choose the right test for your context

It doesn't make sense to run all 17 tests on everyone. A few quick guides by context:

• First general assessment of a new client: start with a broad screen like the Functional Movement Screen (which includes the Deep Squat, Hurdle Step, and Rotational Stability tests from this block), then add specific tests based on what you find
• Athlete in sprint or change-of-direction sports (soccer, rugby, athletics): prioritize the eccentric hamstring strength test, the side hop test, and the Drop Vertical Jump
• Return to sport after a knee injury (ACL, hamstrings): the crossover hop test, the Drop Vertical Jump, and the eccentric quadriceps control test are common reference points for return criteria
• Older adults or those at fall risk: the SPPB, the sit to stand test, and the gait analysis test form the foundation
• Low back pain or lack of core control: start with the trunk control test and the rotational stability test
• Ankle/Achilles complaints or history: the Heel Drop Test and the ankle mobility test
• Sports with upper-body loading (throwing, climbing, swimming): the Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test

General rule: a broad screening test first, specific tests afterward, based on what that screen shows.

From tests to training plan

Running 17 different tests generates a lot of information, and keeping it organized on paper or in scattered spreadsheets quickly becomes unworkable, especially if you're tracking multiple clients at once.

With Movalytics you can record each of these tests (FMS scores, between-leg asymmetries, eccentric strength values, SPPB results...), organize them by client and date, and automatically see how each test and each side of the body evolves over time. So instead of "I think they've improved," you have the data.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to run all 17 tests at every assessment? No. The usual approach is to run a broad screen (like the FMS) at the first assessment, then select 2-4 specific tests based on the sport, prior injury, or limitations detected, to track those in particular. Do these tests diagnose injuries? No, they are screening and tracking tools. They detect risk factors and functional limitations, but a diagnosis requires a medical or specific physical therapy assessment. How often should they be repeated? It depends on the test and the goal: motor control and mobility tests are usually repeated every 8-12 weeks, while in rehab processes after injury, some tests (crossover hop, Drop Vertical Jump) are repeated at each phase of the return-to-sport process. Do I need specialized equipment for these tests? Some do (FMS kit, force measurement device for the Nordic, Y-Balance platform), but many can be done with minimal equipment (tape measure, tape, a step, a partner). Each profile lists the minimum equipment needed. Where should I start if I can only pick 2-3 tests? For a general prevention-oriented assessment, a common combination is: a movement screen (Deep Squat or full FMS), a landing/jump control test (Drop Vertical Jump or side hop), and, if the sport involves sprinting, the Nordic hamstring test.