Sports physical therapy & performance training in Algonquin, IL
Sports Movement Assessment for Baseball, Softball & Other Athletes
The S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment is a comprehensive athletic movement screen designed to identify mobility restrictions, strength deficits, asymmetries, stability limitations and inefficient movement patterns that may affect an athlete's performance.
At Athletic Edge and Wellness in Algonquin, IL, we use S.C.O.R.E. to evaluate how an athlete's body moves as a whole—not simply where an athlete may be experiencing pain.
The goal is simple:
Identify the physical limitations. Build a plan to address them. Help the athlete move and perform more efficiently.
For baseball and softball athletes, S.C.O.R.E. can be especially valuable because throwing, hitting, sprinting and changing direction require coordinated movement throughout the entire body.
What is the S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment?
S.C.O.R.E. is a whole-body musculoskeletal movement assessment that evaluates the physical qualities that contribute to efficient athletic movement.
Rather than simply asking, “Where does it hurt?”, we ask:
“What does this athlete's body need to perform at a higher level?”
The assessment looks at key areas including:
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Mobility
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Stability
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Strength
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Balance
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Movement quality
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Right-to-left asymmetries
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Core and pelvic control
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Sport-specific physical demands
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Movement compensations
The information gathered during the assessment helps us identify an athlete's strengths, limitations and opportunities for improvement.
Raise the Floor. Reach the Ceiling.
Every athlete has areas that can be improved. The S.C.O.R.E. helps identify the physical limitations that may be holding an athlete back so we can build a targeted plan to address them. The goal isn't simply to find what's “wrong.” It's to identify opportunities to move better, perform better, and reach more of your athletic potential.
What Does S.C.O.R.E. Stand For?
Stability
Can the athlete control their body during movement?
We evaluate the ability to maintain control while moving through athletic positions and tasks.
Core
Can the trunk and pelvis provide a stable foundation for producing and transferring force?
Optimal Movement
Can the athlete move efficiently through ranges and patterns of movement required by their sport?
Range of Motion
Does the athlete have the mobility necessary to perform efficiently without unnecessary compensations?
Efficient Mechanics
Can the athlete coordinate their available mobility, strength and stability into efficient movement?
S.C.O.R.E. is designed to identify where an athlete may have physical limitations that can be addressed through individualized training and performance therapy.
Who Can Benefit from a S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment?
S.C.O.R.E. can be used with athletes across many sports and levels of competition.
It may be particularly useful for athletes who:
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Are preparing for a new season
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Are entering a higher level of competition
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Are returning after an injury
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Feel “tight” despite stretching
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Have experienced recurring injuries
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Have noticed a decrease in performance
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Have strength or mobility differences between sides
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Are struggling with consistency, mechanics, or workload
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Want an objective baseline before beginning a training program
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Want to better understand what their body needs before increasing training intensity
Why Baseball and Softball Players Need More Than a Generic Movement Screen
Baseball and softball athletes have unique physical demands. A movement assessment can be especially important for baseball and softball athletes because throwing and hitting require coordinated movement throughout the entire body—from the lower extremities through the hips, trunk, shoulder and arm. A limitation in one area of the body can influence movement elsewhere.
Pitchers, catchers, infielders, outfielders and position players don't all move the same way or have the same physical requirements.
For example, a pitcher may require specific considerations involving:
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Shoulder mobility
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Thoracic rotation
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Hip mobility
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Lead-leg control
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Pelvic stability
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Rotational power
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Scapular control
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Core strength
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Lower-body force production
A catcher may have very different mobility and movement demands than an outfielder. That's why we don't believe in a one-size-fits-all movement program. The assessment helps determine what your athlete needs as it looks beyond the throwing arm and evaluates the athlete as a complete kinetic chain.
What Does the S.C.O.R.E. Assessment Evaluate?
Mobility
We assess movement throughout the body, including:
Shoulder Mobility • Thoracic Rotation • Hip mobility • Hamstring Mobility • Hip Extension • Ankle Mobility • Wrist Mobility
Mobility restrictions can influence movement elsewhere in the kinetic chain.
Stability
We evaluate an athlete's ability to control movement, including:
Core Control • Pelvic Stability • Single-Leg Balance •Scapular Control• Rotational Stability
Strength
Strength assessment may include:
Hip and Glute Strength • Posterior-Chain Strength • Rotator Cuff• Scapular Stabilizers • Core Strength •Lower-Extremity Strength
Movement Quality & Asymmetries
We look at how the athlete actually moves. This allows us to identify physical constraints and compensations that may affect athletic movement. We look at movement from right to left and compare both quality and quantity of movement.
The goal is not to replace sport-specific coaching or throwing analysis.
Instead, S.C.O.R.E. helps answer an important question:
Does the athlete have the physical capacity to perform the movement required by their sport?
Why Assess Movement Before Chasing Performance?
Athletes frequently spend significant time working on:
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Strength• Velocity • Pitch Design • Power • Hitting •Throwing Mechanics
But before adding more training volume, it is worth asking whether the athlete has the physical qualities necessary to tolerate and express that training. Loading dysfunctional movement patterns creates problems.
A mobility restriction, strength deficit or stability problem may cause an athlete to compensate during movement. Before adding more to the program, identify what the athlete actually needs. This is where S.C.O.R.E. becomes the starting point for an individualized performance plan.
S.C.O.R.E. for Baseball and Softball Athletes
For baseball and softball players, we can use S.C.O.R.E. as part of a broader athlete-development process.
Depending on the athlete's needs, the assessment may be combined with:
S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment
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Overhead Throwing Assessment
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Individualized Performance Therapy
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Sport-Specific Training
S.C.O.R.E. turns assessment into an action plan. Rather than giving an athlete a list of exercises, we use the findings to prioritize what matters most. Your program may focus on mobility, strength, stability, movement control, rotational power or sport-specific performance.
How Is a Movement Assessment Different From a Sports Physical?
A sports physical and a movement assessment serve different purposes. A sports physical primarily determines whether an athlete is medically appropriate to participate.
A movement assessment examines how the athlete moves and identifies physical characteristics that may influence performance.
S.C.O.R.E. evaluates areas such as:
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Mobility
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Strength
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Stability
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Balance
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Movement quality
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Asymmetry
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Physical limitations
For an athlete who is already cleared to participate, S.C.O.R.E. can provide additional information about what their body may need to improve performance and training quality.
When Should an Athlete Have a S.C.O.R.E. Assessment?
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Before the Season
Establish a baseline before competition and identify areas that deserve attention.
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At the End of the Season
Identify mobility losses, strength deficits and movement changes that developed during the season.
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Before Beginning an Off-Season Training Program
Use assessment findings to help guide exercise selection instead of simply following a generic program.
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Before Increasing Training or Throwing Volume
Make sure the athlete has the physical capacity to tolerate the demands being placed on them.
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When Performance Plateaus
If velocity, consistency, endurance or movement quality has stopped progressing, physical limitations may be one piece of the puzzle.
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After Injury
Returning to sport isn't simply about becoming pain-free. Movement patterns and physical capacity may need to be reassessed before an athlete returns to full performance.
What Happens After the S.C.O.R.E. Assessment?
The assessment is only the beginning. Once we identify an athlete's areas of limitation, we can develop an individualized plan based on the findings.
Depending on the athlete, that plan may include PERFORMANCE THERAPY with an individualized plan of care to address deficits.
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Mobility training
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Stability exercises
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Strength development
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Corrective exercise
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Neuromuscular re-education
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Core training
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Rotational training
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Power development
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Sport-specific movement
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Throwing progression
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Performance therapy
We don't prescribe exercises just because they're popular. We prescribe them because the athlete needs them.
Learn More About Movement Assessment
Schedule Your S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment
Find the Weak Links. Build the Foundation. Improve Performance.
Don't wait until an athlete develops pain or performance problems before asking what their body needs.
A S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment provides an objective starting point for understanding mobility, strength, stability and movement quality.
Ready to find out what your athlete needs?
S.C.O.R.E. isn't about finding what's wrong with an athlete. It's about identifying what can be improved.
Raise the floor. Reach the ceiling.
Schedule a S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment at Athletic Edge and Wellness in Algonquin, IL.
Call 224-505-3343 or schedule an appointment today.
FAQ
What is a S.C.O.R.E. Movement Assessment?
S.C.O.R.E. is a whole-body movement assessment that evaluates mobility, stability, strength, balance and movement quality to identify physical limitations that may affect athletic performance.
Who should have a S.C.O.R.E. assessment?
Athletes of many sports and competition levels can benefit from a movement assessment, particularly athletes preparing for a season, returning from injury, transitioning to a higher level of competition or experiencing a performance plateau.
Is S.C.O.R.E. only for baseball players?
No! S.C.O.R.E. can be used with athletes across multiple sports. However, Athletic Edge and Wellness has particular experience working with baseball, softball and other overhead athletes.
Can S.C.O.R.E. help pitchers?
Yes. S.C.O.R.E. can identify physical limitations involving mobility, strength, stability and movement that may be relevant to a throwing athlete. For pitchers, it can be combined with an overhead throwing assessment for a comprehensive evaluation.
Does S.C.O.R.E. diagnose injuries?
S.C.O.R.E. is a movement and performance assessment, not a substitute for medical diagnosis or imaging when an injury is suspected.
When is the best time to have a movement assessment?
The assessment can be performed throughout the year, but the off-season is an especially useful time to identify and address mobility, strength and movement limitations before training and competition demands increase.
Understanding Your SCORE Results
Your S.C.O.R.E. results use color-coded movement markers to help identify areas that may deserve attention.
A color does not define an athlete or mean that something is necessarily “wrong.” Instead, the results help identify opportunities to improve movement, physical capacity and performance.
GREEN — Pass
The athlete met the movement markers for the test with appropriate form and control.
YELLOW — Caution
The athlete may have an area that could benefit from additional attention. For example, an athlete may complete a squat with good mechanics but lack the mobility or depth needed to meet all of the movement markers.
RED — Opportunity to Improve
The athlete did not meet one or more movement markers and may have a physical limitation that deserves further evaluation or targeted training. Red does not automatically mean injury—it identifies an area that may need attention.
Understanding the Asymmetry Score
Athletes—especially throwing athletes—naturally develop side-to-side differences. The goal is not to eliminate every asymmetry.
Instead, we look at whether an asymmetry may be influencing movement quality, efficiency, performance or the athlete's ability to tolerate their sport's demands.
We work with athletes from Algonquin and surrounding communities, including Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, Cary, Barrington, Elgin, Carpentersville, Dundee and Hampshire.
