Executive Summary
BRITTANY KILEY
Purpose

To assess how much stretching affects flexibility.

Compared pre stretching and post stretching
results of sit and reach test.

30 participants participated

18 females and 12 males.

About Health article claims sit and reach test “the
most common way” to test the flexibility the
hamstrings (Quinn, 2014, page 1).

Research from the Journal of Sports Science and
Medicine claims that the mean for hamstring
extensibility is average while lumber extensibility
mean validity is low (Mayorga-Vega, 2014).
Girlshealth.gov
Method

Male and female sit and reach standards differ by 2-3 centimeters, women
having the further range (Quinn, 2014).

Weight, height, and age were recorded.

Gym clothes and proper hydration beforehand were required.

Test:

Sit and reach performed pre stretch

5-10 minute warmup (Topend Sports article states reliability of the test results
depend greatly on proper warmup each time the test is given (Wood, 2008). )

Post stretch test performed
Expected Results

Males

Females

Excellent: 24+ inches

Excellent: 26+ inches

Above Average: 21-23

Above Average: 23-25

Average: 17-20

Average: 19-22

Below Average: 13-16

Below Average: 15-18

Poor: 12-

Poor: 14-
Basic Description of Study

This study was done to evaluate the
importance of stretching

Stretching can increase performance
due to flexibility.

It shows a comparison between not
stretching and performing a test and
with stretching and performing the
same test.
Bmsi.ru
Instrumentation Example
Each participant
was to fill out the
chart according
to their age,
weight, height,
gender, pre
score results, and
post results.
Name
Age
Weight
Height
Gender
Pre Score
Post Score
(in)
(in)
Results/Analysis of Data

Males

Females

Average pre-stretch score: 13.56 in.

Average pre-stretch score: 20.86 in.

Average post-stretch score: 14.63 in.

Average post-stretch score: 21.86 in.

Below average in their post-stretch score

Average in their post-stretch score

Improved after stretching by a mean
score of 1.07 inches.

Improved after stretching by a mean
score of 1.00 inches.

Standard deviation pre stretch results: 3.58

Standard deviation pre stretch results: 2.07

Standard deviation post stretch results:
3.34

Standard deviation post stretch results:
1.51

P value was not close to 0.5 showing no
correlation between BMI and height

P value was not close to 0.5 showing no
correlation between BMI and height
Overall
Weight
(lb)
BMI
Age
Mean
66.40
152.33
24.32
21.90
16.97
18.00
44.07
SD
4.06
24.09
3.67
1.18
4.72
4.50
32.56
Gender
0.000000
Mean
64.07
144.57
24.78
22.00
20.86
21.86
65.64
SD
2.50
29.03
5.06
1.30
2.07
1.51
24.92
p value
Male
Pre
Percentile
Height
(in)
p value
Female
Post Stetch Sit
and Reach (in)
Subj.
Pre Stetch Sit
and Reach (in)
Results
0.00015
Mean
68.44
159.13
23.91
21.81
13.56
14.63
25.19
SD
4.13
16.91
1.85
1.11
3.58
3.34
26.40
p value
0.00014
Correlation BMI/Flex
0.106672
Discussion
Konkura.com

Each participant reached further
after stretching.

Stretching the muscles is
important because it allows the
muscle fibers to contract
eccentrically.

There is a correlation between
stretching and having a further
reach.

BMI and height was not
correlational because the P value
was not anywhere close to 0.5
Next Steps/Evaluation and Reflection

There are plenty of tests to conduct to show the affects stretching have on
the flexibility of the muscles.

For future reference, this test could be conducted more than once to
increase its reliability.

Other factors could be used as well for statistical evidence.

Other muscles can be evaluated as well.
References

Daniel Mayorga-Vega, Rafael Merino-Marban, & Jesus Viciana. (2014). “Criterion-Related Validity of Sit-and-Reach
Tests for Estimating Hamstring and Lumbar Extensibility: a Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Sports Science and
Medicine, Jan 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918544/

Elizabeth Quinn. (2014.) “Sit and Reach Flexibility Test – What is the Sit and Reach Flexibility Test.” About Health,
Dec 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2015 from
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/fitnessevalandassessment/qt/SitandReach.htm

Robert Wood. (2008). “Sit and Reach Test.” Topend Sports Network. Retrieved July 18, 2015, from
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/sit-and-reach.htm