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Home / Exercising / Fitness tests / Flexibility tests / Static flexibility tests / Trunk & neck
Trunk And Neck Flexibility Test
Introduction
One assessment that many individuals take as a measure of their range of motion is a trunk and neck flexibility test.
These muscles are used very frequently and therefore more suseptible to injury. Tests can prevent this.
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What is the point?
Your trunk and neck are used frequently, particularly in sport and are therefore at danger of injury. Neck injuries in particular can have far reaching conseqences. This tes is a good way to determine the range of motion you have in your mid-section, which will then help you determine any limitations you may have while participating in physical activity.
The objective of the Trunk & Neck Flexibility test is to evaluate the range of motion in these areas in order to prevent painful stiffness and reduce the chance of injury.
What do you need?
- A partner
- A yardstick
- A chair
How do you do the test? - To begin the trunk and neck flexibility test test, sit straight up in a chair and then have your partner measure the distance from the tip of your nose to the seat of the chair.
- After that's been recorded, lie with your stomach down on the chair, placing both hands behind your lower back.
- Your partner should then move behind you and place a small amount of pressure on the upper leg to make sure it stays down on the ground at all times during the trunk and neck flexibility test.
- Next have a second person place a yardstick near your head, perpendicular to the floor. This will be used to measure the results.
- Being to lift your upper body as high off the floor as possible, while having the distance between the floor and the top of your nose recorded.
- Do this three times in a row and then take the best of your results.
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What results you'll get :
In order to calculate your score, subtract the number you got from the first number you derived (your trunk length). Then compare with the following standards:
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Poor |
Average |
Good |
Excellent |
| Male |
3.00 or less |
3.25-6.00 |
6.25-8.00 |
8.25-10.00 |
| Female |
2.00 or less |
2.25-5.75 |
6.00-7.75 |
8.00-9.75 |
Try and perform this assessment about every two to three months as that is usually about how long it will take to see improvements provided you are performing a regular stretching routine.
Also be sure you always warm up this area of the body before working on stretching because the back can be quite prone to injury. Simply performing some good side bend exercises along with rotation can be a great way to help increase your performance on this assessment. You can either do these right after you warm up before you begin a weight lifting routine or as part of your cool-down.
What is being measured again?
These test measures the flexibility and range of motion of the trunk (core body, including spine) and neck.
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