Flamingo Test
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Purpose
The Flamingo Test is a single-leg balance test that is part of the Eurofit Testing Battery. It is used to evaluate static balance and overall body balance. The test assesses the ability to balance successfully on a single leg and is commonly used as a field motor test of balance for healthy subjects and athletes.[1] This test accomplishes the requirements of simplicity, and low cost, and is capable of mass investigations.[2]
During the test, participants must stand on one leg on a beam, with the other leg flexed at the knee and the foot held close to the buttocks. This test assesses the strength of the leg, pelvic, and trunk muscles and dynamic balance. It is used to evaluate an individual's ability to balance successfully on a single leg and is often conducted using a stopwatch and a 50 cm-long metal beam with a non-slip surface.
The Eurofit Testing Battery, which includes the Flamingo Test, is a set of nine physical fitness tests covering speed, endurance, and strength. The Council of Europe devised it for children of school age and has been used in many European schools since 1988. The test battery is designed to be performed within 35 to 40 minutes using simple equipment and is used to assess various aspects of physical fitness.
Technique
- Pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, and test conditions. Perform an appropriate warm-up.
- Equipment: The test requires a balance beam of 50 cm long, 4 cm high, and 3 cm wide, as well as a stopwatch.
- Procedure:
- Stand on the balance beam with one leg.
- Bent the free leg backward and grip the back of the foot with the hand on the same side, standing like a flamingo.[3]
- Attempt to maintain this position for as long as possible.
- The time stops if the raised leg touches the ground, and restarts when balance is regained.
- Write down the number of mistakes you make within one minute.
- The number of mistakes is equal to the number of scored points. So, eight mistakes give a score of 8 for example.
- Scoring: The test is scored based on the number of mistakes made within one minute. The more mistakes made, the lower the score. For example, eight mistakes give a score of 8. Scoring tables are available in the Eurofit Manual.
- Duration: The test takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
- Intended Population: The Flamingo Test is used to assess static balance and overall body balance in various populations, including university students and older adults.[4]
Evidence
The Flamingo Test has been found to have test-retest reliability, making it a useful tool for evaluating static balance and overall body balance in different populations.[7]
Resources
References
- ↑ Panjan A, Sarabon N. Review of Methods for the Evaluation of Human Body Balance. Sport Science Review. 2010 Jan 1;19(5-6).
- ↑ Rami PV, Prabhakar MM. Comparison of Static Balance in Male Football and Basketball Players by Using Flamingo Balance Test. International Journal of Physiotherapy. 2018 Oct 1;5(5).
- ↑ Ozkunt O, Kaya O, Kurt İ. Comparison of hallux valgus deformed ballerinas and sedentary individuals in terms of balance parameters. Medicine. 2022 Oct 7;101(40):e30915.
- ↑ García-Liñeira J, Leirós-Rodríguez R, Romo-Pérez V, García-Soidán JL. Static and dynamic postural control assessment in schoolchildren: Reliability and reference values of the Modified Flamingo Test and Bar Test. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2023 Oct;36:14-19.
- ↑ Physical Education World. Flamingo Balance Test | How to conduct Flamingo Balance Test | Static Balance Test for Kids. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfLMyjUbFoQ [last accessed 15/8/2024]
- ↑ Fitness365. FLAMINGO Balance Test (English, 5-8 Years). Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo8YNpwPZVs [last accessed 15/8/2024]
- ↑ Tsigilis N, Douda H, Tokmakidis SP. Test-retest reliability of the Eurofit test battery administered to university students. Percept Mot Skills. 2002 Dec;95(3 Pt 2):1295-300. doi: 10.2466/pms.2002.95.3f.1295. PMID: 12578274.