Functional movement screenings help keep student-athletes healthy

MONT ALTO, Pa. — A personalized screening program is helping student-athletes identify risk factors that may increase their susceptibility to injury, while also providing physical therapy students with firsthand experience working with athletes.

Since 2023, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at Penn State Mont Alto has partnered with the athletic department to conduct pre-season movement screens on student-athletes.

To complete the Functional Movement System Screen (FMS), athletes are asked to attempt seven different movement patterns. If pain or abnormalities are noted, the athlete is managed further by the athletic trainer to address their identified movement and medical needs.

Amanda Snider, an assistant teaching professor and physical therapist, started the screening program. Through her own personal experience, she said she knew there was a need for services like this in the community.

As a high school athlete, Snider underwent three knee surgeries following sports-related injuries.

“Those experiences were challenging, but they exposed me to physical therapy and shaped my career path," Snider said. "I always wondered, what if we had screenings like these when I was an athlete? Could those injuries have been prevented?”

To provide screening options to the student-athletes at Mont Alto, a team-approach was needed, she said.

“We don’t have enough health care providers to send out to screen at this magnitude in small, rural communities. I saw an opportunity with our physical therapy assistant students to do so,” Snider added.

To date, 13 PTA students at have earned their FMS Level 1 Certification, and more than 150 student-athletes have been screened on the Mont Alto campus.

“It’s a great service and a unique opportunity to see our PTA students working in their element,” Assistant Athletic Director Shane Myers said. “They’re working together with our athletes, helping them understand their bodies and ultimately giving them the best chance to stay healthy throughout the season.”

Screenings are typically conducted six weeks before the start of competition, giving athletes and coaches time to implement new exercises in conditioning. Common issues such as limited ankle mobility, tight hamstrings or poor core stability are flagged. These factors that can contribute to preventable injuries if left unaddressed.

“Our goal is to create a collaborative sports medicine community that not only offers evidence-based strategies but also fosters an environment where professionals and students can learn from one another,” Myers said.

Penn State Mont Alto Alumni Society provided funding to launch and maintain the initiative.