Functional movement patterns and bilateral asymmetry in badminton athletes: A Functional Movement Screen analysis at the Malang Regional Training Center
Avi Kholifatuz Zahro', Muhammad Atiq Noviudin Pritama · Physical Education and Sports Studies and Research · 2026
Background: Badminton involves repetitive unilateral overhead movements, rapid changes of direction, and explosive actions that may contribute to side-to-side differences in functional movement patterns.
Objectives: This study aimed to describe functional movement patterns and bilateral asymmetry among badminton athletes at the Malang Regional Training Center using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 16 sub-elite badminton athletes aged 15–20 years selected through purposive sampling. Functional movement was assessed using the seven-component FMS. Total scores were classified as high (≤14), moderate (15–17), or low (18–21) injury risk. Bilateral asymmetry was identified from differences between right- and left-side scores in five bilateral FMS components. Data were analyzed descriptively using means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages.
Results: Most athletes (62.5%, n = 10) were classified as having moderate injury risk, while 18.75% (n = 3) were classified as high risk and 18.75% (n = 3) as low risk. Shoulder Mobility showed the highest prevalence of bilateral asymmetry (100%, n = 16), followed by the In-Line Lunge and Rotary Stability (62.5%, n = 10 each), Hurdle Step (50.0%, n = 8), and Active Straight Leg Raise (43.75%, n = 7).
Conclusions: Bilateral functional movement asymmetry was common among badminton athletes, particularly in shoulder mobility, while most athletes were classified within the moderate injury-risk category. These
Findings: support functional movement screening to identify movement limitations and inform individualized corrective exercise strategies.