Objectives: The objective of our study was to compare the functional movement patterns, the stability and mobility of triathletes and orienteerers before and after a 6-week training programme using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).

Methods: In total 34 triathletes (n=19) and orienteerers (n=15) volunteered for our prospective study from the rising generation of two different sportclubs in Szeged, Csongrád-Csanád County, Hungary. Prior to the first FMS they each filled in a self-edited questionnarie about their sports career, trainings and injuries. The study was conducted during the 2019 preparation period of the triathletes and orienteerers. Subjects were screened twice with FMS; a week before starting the training programme, and within one week after finishing it. The 6-week long programme, performed in 45-60 minutes twice a week, was designed to correct the musculoskeletal dysfunctions and deficiencies that were discovered during the first screening.

Results: While there was no significant difference between triathletes and orienteerers in the FMS total scores before the training programme (average score of triathletes: xt=12.11±1.97; average score of orienteerers: xo=12.07±1.75) (p=0.709), the difference between the two groups after the training programme was significant (xt= 16.26±1.48; xo=14.53±1.77) (p=0.004). Compared to the first FMS screening, significant improvement was observed in the FMS total scores for both triathletes (p <0.001) and orienteerers (p=0.003). On the first screening only a few athletes managed to score> 14 points (triathletes: n=0; orienteerers: n=2). By the time of the second screening most of the triathletes (n=17) and orienteerers studied (n=7) could reach> 14 points. (cut-off score: ≤14/21 points)

Conclusions: The fact that there was significant difference in the results of the FMS between the athletes of the two sports by the end of the 6-week training programme indicates that the level of improvement could be greatly influenced by the amount of workout and training load.