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Effects of a Novel Ground-Based Movement Training Program on Functional Movement,
Flexibility, Strength and Endurance
Jeffrey D. Buxton1, Philip J. Prins1, Michael G. Miller2, Anthony Moreno3, Gary L. Welton1,
Adam Atwell1, Gretchen Elsey1, Tirzah Talampas1. 1Grove City College, Grove City,
PA. 2Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. 3Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti,
MI.
Ground-based movement training (GMBT) is a unique form of bodyweight training that
incorporates various animal poses, transitions, and crawling patterns to reportedly improve fitness
and performance. GBMT is growing in popularity and being used in numerous settings including
general fitness, strength and conditioning for sport, and physical rehabilitation. Unfortunately,
little evidence exists to validate claims made by commercial GBMT programs and to guide
practitioners in the best use of GBMT. PURPOSE: To assess the impact of 8 weeks of a
commercially available GBMT program on functional movement, dynamic balance, active joint
range of motion, and upper body muscular strength and endurance. METHODS: Forty-two
(males = 19; females 23) physically active college-age (19.76 ± 2.10 years) subjects were
randomly assigned to a GBMT or control (CON) group. The GBMT group performed 60-minutes
of GBMT twice a week for 8 weeks in addition to their normal physical activity, while the CON
group maintained their normal physical activity throughout the intervention period. Two-way
mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was used to assess differences between
groups. RESULTS: The GBMT group showed significantly greater improvements than the CON
group in overall functional movement screen composite score (mean ± SD:1.62 ± 1.53 vs. 0.33 ±
1.15 points, p = 0.004), functional movement patterns (0.81 ± 0.87 vs. 0.00 ± 0.71 points, p =
0.002) and fundamental stability patterns scores (0.57 ± 0.75 vs. 0.05 ± 0.50 points, p = 0.011).
Additionally, the GBMT group showed significantly greater improvements than the CON group
for hip flexion (right 9.10 ± 4.46 vs. 2.88 ± 7.27 degrees, p = 0.002; left 7.06 ± 5.91 vs. 1.10 ±
6.51 degrees, p = 0.004), hip lateral rotation (right 6.27 ± 7.28 vs. -0.10 ± 5.24 degrees, p = 0.002;
left 5.09 ± 7.25 vs. -0.31 ± 6.97 degrees, p = 0.018) and shoulder extension (right 4.16 ± 9.10 vs.
-4.23 ± 8.72 degrees, p = 0.004; left 7.08 ± 11.37 vs. -2.12 ± 9.89 degrees, p =
0.008). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that GBMT can improve functional movement
patterns and various active joint ranges of motion.
Supported by Grove City College Jewell, Moore, & McKenzie Fund