Flexibility
Testing
Flexibility
• Functional ROM about a joint
• Joint specific
• Functional ROM
– Ability to move a joint w/o pain or
limitation
Flexibility
Depends on
•
•
•
•
Distension of the joint capsule
Adequate warm-up
Muscle viscosity
Compliance of other tissues –
muscles, ligaments
Flexibility (ROM) Assessment
Purpose
• Joint specific
• Assess current status
• Describe Δ in status
• Establish goals
• Motivation
Mvt in Major Joints
Terminology
• Flexion
– Anterior mvt for head, trunk, upper
extremity, hip
– Posterior mvt for knee, ankle, toes
• Extension
– Direction opposite of flexion
• Hyperextension
– Excessive extension
Mvt in Major Joints
Terminology
• Abduction
– Mvt away from the midline of the body
• Adduction
– Mvt toward midline of the body
– For fingers & toes, use midline of hand
& foot
Mvt in Major Joints
Terminology
• Scapular elevation
– Shrugging (upward mvt)
• Scapular depression
– Caudal or downward mvt
• Scapular protraction
– Slumped forward
• Scapular retraction
– Erect position
Mvt in Major Joints
Terminology
• Anterior pelvic tilt
– Lumbar lordosis
• Posterior pelvic tilt
– Occurs with bilateral hip flexion &
flattening of lumbar lordosis
Measuring Joint-Specific
Flexibility
Laboratory
Methods
Field
Methods
Goniometry
Trunk flexion (sit-&-reach)
Visual estimation
Trunk extension
Radiography
Photography
Linear measurements
Trigonometry
Trunk Flexion
(Sit-&-Reach)
Poor lower back & hip
(posterior leg muscle)
flexibility associated w/
• Lower back pain
• Loss of ADL’s
Trunk Flexion (Sit-&-Reach)
Test Procedures
Pretest:
• perform a short warm-up
• refrain from fast, jerky mvts
• shoes should be removed
Trunk Flexion (Sit-&-Reach)
Procedures
YMCA sit-&-reach test (Table 4-16)
• yardstick is placed on the floor
• tape is placed across it at a right angle to
the 15-inch mark
• participant sits w/ yardstick b/n the legs
• Heels of the feet touch the edge of the
taped line about 10 to 12 inches apart
• If sit-&-reach box, heels should be placed
against the edge of the box.
Trunk Flexion (Sit-&-Reach)
Procedures
• slowly reach forward w/ both hands
as far as possible - hold this position
momentarily
• Keeps hands parallel - do not lead w/
one hand
• Fingertips can be overlapped - should
be in contact with yardstick or
measuring portion of the sit-&-reach
box
Trunk Flexion (Sit-&-Reach)
Procedures
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•
•
•
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Score - most distant point (in inches or
centimeters) reached w/ the fingertips
best of three trials
Assist - exhale & drop the head b/n the
arms when reaching
ensure that the knees stay extended
breathe normally during test
Trunk Flexion (Sit-&-Reach)
Procedures
Sit-&-reach box (Table 4-15)
• sits w/ the legs fully extended
• soles of the feet against the box
• norms use a sit-&-reach box in
which the “zero” point is set at
the 26 cm