Stress injuries common to running athletes are always associated with a breakdown of the protective mechanisms normally inherent in healthy posture and gait. It is more important to identify and treat these breakdowns of the motor process than the resulting injury itself. Simple motor screening of athletes can identify functional abnormalities that lead to stress injuries. This screen includes assessment of flexibility of all major joints, responsiveness of primary postural muscles, posture, balance, and gait. Present definitions of physical fitness are focused on cardiorespiratory function and strength and do not properly determine the ability of an athlete to run or walk. The basic motor screen outlined in this article has been shown to be of value in correcting this shortcoming.
