Deep Squat screening and scoring
Setup and purpose
The Deep Squat is the first of the seven FMS patterns. It is a bilateral, symmetrical test of hip, knee, and ankle mobility, thoracic extension, shoulder flexion, and core stability. The patient stands with feet shoulder-width apart and toes pointing forward. A dowel is held overhead with both hands, elbows at 90 degrees. The patient descends as deep as possible while keeping heels on the floor, head and chest facing forward, and the dowel maximally overhead.
Scoring criteria
- 3: Upper torso is parallel to the tibia or more upright; femur is below horizontal; knees are in line over the feet; dowel remains in line over the feet.
- 2: The patient cannot meet the 3 criteria but can meet them with heels elevated on a 2x6 board (or feet turned out, per FMS protocol). The same criteria must be met.
- 1: The patient cannot achieve the position even with heels elevated.
- 0: Pain anywhere during the movement. The Deep Squat is scored once, not left and right.
Worked example
An athlete squats with heels flat, torso upright, femurs below horizontal, knees tracking over the feet, and the dowel over the feet. This is a 3. A second athlete squats with heels flat but the torso leans forward and the dowel drifts forward; the heels then lift. The examiner retests with the heels on a 2x6 board. The athlete now keeps the torso upright, femurs below horizontal, and dowel over the feet. This is a 2. If the heels still lift or the torso still collapses, the score is 1. If the athlete reports knee pain at the bottom, the score is 0.
Traps
- Forgetting to retest with heels elevated before assigning a 2 or 1.
- Giving a 2 for any compensation instead of the specific heel lift or foot turn.
- Missing that the femur must be below horizontal for a 3.
- Allowing the dowel to drop forward or the arms to bend.
- Failing to ask about pain; pain makes the score 0.