Flamingo Test

Original Editor - Mohit Chand
Top Contributors - Mohit Chand, Wanda van Niekerk and Carina Therese Magtibay

Purpose

The Flamingo Test is a single-leg balance test that forms part of the Eurofit Testing Battery, used to evaluate static balance and overall body balance. During the test, participants are required to 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, as well as 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

1. 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.
2. Equipment: The test requires a balance beam of 50 cm long, 4 cm high, and 3 cm wide, as well as a stopwatch.
3. Procedure:
   • Stand on the balance beam with one leg.
   • Lift the other leg and hold the foot close to the buttock.
   • 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.
4. 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.
5. Duration: The test takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
6. Intended Population: The Flamingo Test is used to assess static balance and overall body balance in various populations, including university students and older adults.

Evidence

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.