Sit and Reach Test
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Introduction and Purpose[edit | edit source]
Sit and reach test is the one of the linear flexibility test which helps to measure the extensibility of hamstring and lower back.[1] It was initially described by Wells and Dillon in 1952 and probably the mostly used flexibility test.It have a simple procedure, is easy to administer, require-minimal skills training for their application, and the equipment necessary to perform them is very affordable.It is a field test which is easy to administer in community setting with large scale of population size.[2]
It helps to determine individual risk of future injury and pain as hamstring flexibilty is related to prevent risk of falling, gait limitations or postural deviations and acute or chronic musculoskeletal injuries and lower back problems. It is important to maintain good level of flexibility as part of health related fitness (HRF).[3]
Technique[edit | edit source]
- Pretest: Clients/Patients should perform a short warm-up prior to this test and include some stretches. It is also recommended that the participant refrain from fast, jerky movements, which may increase the possibility of an injury. The participant’s shoes should be removed.
- The client sits without shoes and the soles of the feet flat against the flexometer (sit-and-reach box) at the 26 cm mark.
- The client/patient should slowly reach forward with extended arms, placing one hand on top of the other facing palms down, as far as possible, holding this position approximately 2 s. Be sure that the participant keeps the hands parallel and does not lead with one hand. Fingertips can be overlapped and should be in contact with the measuring portion or yardstick of the sit-and-reach box.
- The score is the most distant point (cm or in) reached with the fingertips. The best of three trials should be recorded. To assist with the best attempt, the client/patient should exhale and drop the head between the arms when reaching. Testers should ensure that the knees of the participant stay extended; however, the participant’s knees should not be pressed down. The client/patient should breathe normally during the test and should not hold her/his breath at any time.
Variations[edit | edit source]
- Unilateral sit and reach test
- Back-saver sit and reach test
- Bilateral sit and reach test
- V sit and reach test.
- Chair sit-and-reach test (CSR test)- It was proposed as an alternative for assessing hamstring flexibility in elderly people with correlation co-effiecent of 0.81 and 0.76 for older men and women respectively.
- Modified sit and-reach test
- Toe-touch test
- Canadian Trunk Forward Flexion Test
The choice of the test to be employed is more often based on the examiner’s preferences, ease of use, professional discipline, or tradition, rather than scientific evidence. The reason probably comes from the fact that there is still no convincing proof or conclusively provided evidence of which test is the most appropriate to use to assess hamstring and low-back flexibility.
Evidence[edit | edit source]
Provide the evidence for this technique here
Resources[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Mayorga-Vega D, Merino-Marban R, Viciana J. Criterion-related validity of sit-and-reach tests for estimating hamstring and lumbar extensibility: A meta-analysis. Journal of sports science & medicine. 2014 Jan;13(1):1.
- ↑ Baltaci G, Un N, Tunay V, Besler A, Gerçeker S. Comparison of three different sit and reach tests for measurement of hamstring flexibility in female university students. British journal of sports medicine. 2003 Feb 1;37(1):59-61.
- ↑ Cuberek R, Machová I, Lipenská M. Reliability of V sit-and-reach test used for flexibility self-assessment in females. Acta Gymnica. 2013 Dec 18;43(1):35-9.
- ↑ reference
