Flexibility Evaluation

Overview

• Evaluation of flexibility measures how flexible a person is.
• Two main tests discussed: Sit and Reach Test, Goniometry.

Sit and Reach Test

• Procedure

  • Equipment: A box placed against a solid surface.
  • Participant removes shoes, sits flat-footed, legs straight, knees extended.
  • Reach as far as possible down the board and hold position for 2 seconds.
  • Perform three attempts, record the best score.

• Advantages

  • Easy to administer.
  • Inexpensive equipment.
  • Provides standardized results.

• Disadvantages

  • Only measures flexibility of lower back and hamstrings.
  • Not suitable for measuring flexibility of other joints (e.g., shoulders).
  • Measures only static flexibility.
  • Requires thorough warm-up for best results.

• Key Points

  • Know how to conduct the test.
  • Understand the advantages and disadvantages.

Goniometry

• Equipment

  • Goniometer: 360-degree protractor with two arms.

• Procedure

  • Place the center (hinge point) of the goniometer at the center of the joint.
  • Align the arms with the articulating bones (e.g., humerus, radius/ulna).
  • Measure the joint angles.
  • Example: Elbow should reach 180 degrees.

• Advantages

  • Objective measurement.
  • Provides exact joint angles as data.
  • Can be applied to any joint, making it sport-specific.

• Disadvantages

  • Human error in finding the center of rotation.
  • Requires significant training for accuracy.

Conclusion

• Both methods provide different insights into flexibility.
• Importance of understanding the applications and limitations of each method.