Assessing Flexibility

- to identify acceptable and unacceptable levels of flexibility

- to prescribe stretched ot help maintain and improve

why do we assess flexibility?

lab based assessment

controlled setting

specifically designed/instrumented equipment

administered to an individual

more resources (time, money)

field based assessment

practical settings

adaptable equipment or no equipment

administered to small groups

fewer resources

objective assessment

not influenced by opinons, representing facts

performance on an assessment

involves reading a measurement rather than interpreting guidelines

ex: passive spine test

subjective assessment

influenced by personal opinions

takes into consideration what a person feels/experiences during assessment

interpretation of criteria or guidelines

a "judgement call"

ex" functional movement screen tests

active flexibility

Movement is created with muscle contraction

assess strength of antagonist to move through range of motion and flexibility of agonist to elongate

passive flexibility

movement is created with another part of body, an assistive device, or from another person

assess flexibility of agonist

push

pull

reach

lift

twist

what movements are classified as functional movements?

multi-joint

multi-planar

replicate ADLs and/or sport-specific tasks

what are characteristics of functional movements?

standardized approach to flexibility assessment

specific to areas of the body/muscles/joints

follow assessment procedures to ensure results are balid and reliable(warm-up, tools, position, directions)

key to accirate results

key to repeating tests to measure change over time

apley's scratch test

commonly used flexibility assessment

combined shoulder and elbow test

thomas test

commonly used flexibility assessment

combined hip and knee

overhead deep squat

commonly used flexibility assessment

full body movement

functional movement screen

commonly used flexibility assessment

grouping of mobility, stability, and strength assessment