Is There A Relationship Between the Functional Reach Test and Flexibility?

Abstract

This study examined the influence of short-term stretching and improved flexibility on functional reach (FR) performances (reach distance and rotation angle of various joints during reaching). 17 healthy male university students were assigned to either experimental and control groups based on the random assignment. A pre-test/Post-test design was used in this study. The variable factor for the experimental group was stretching (jogging for warming up and stretching). Main outcome measures were flexibility (static maximum range of motion of shoulder, hip, and ankle joints) and FR of participants. FR test performances were assessed by the reach distance and rotation angles of each joint during reaching. No significant differences between the groups were found in the participants’ characteristics, and no skeletal muscle fatigue was found in the lower limb. In the experimental group, shoulder and hip-joint flexibility increased significantly by stretching, and showed higher values than that of the control group. In contrast, FR test performance did not reveal any changes. Slight intraindividual ROM improvements by short-term stretching may be less important for FR postural strategies. FR test performances are little influenced by light static stretching in young healthy adults.