The sit-and-reach (SR) test is commonly used to assess low back and hamstring flexibility and its criterion validity is based on passive straight leg raise (PSLR) performance. Recently, we learned that physically active young men matched with physically active young women for SR box scores (reach distance measured from a SR box) demonstrated lower hip flexibility during the PSLR and lower pelvic angle during the SR compared to the women (Mier & Shapiro. J Strength Cond Res. 27: 1031-1035, 2013). Thus, the fitness categories established from SR box scores are likely inadequate for ranking hip flexibility in these men. PURPOSE: To compare hip flexibility measured from PSLR between young physically active men grouped according to SR box score fitness categories (As described in ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing & Prescription, 9th ed). We hypothesized that mean PSLR scores would not differ between the following five groups, excellent (E), very good (VG), good (G), fair (F) and needs improvement (NI). METHODS: Sixty three men (age 23 ± 4 yr, body mass 79.0 ± 13.1 kg, body height 175.6 ± 7.7 cm) participated. Each participant performed a standard SR and PSLR test on the same day (counter-balanced). During the PSLR, hip joint angle was measured from videotape analyses using Dartfish software program. One-way ANOVA was used to determine significant difference (p < .05) between categories followed by a Tukey HSD post hoc test. RESULTS: The number of participants in each category was 7 (E), 11 (VG), 13 (G), 12 (F) and 20 (NI), respectively. Mean SR scores were 42.0 ± 2.5 cm (E), 35.8 ± 2.0 cm (VG), 31.4± 1.3 cm (G), 26.0 ± 1.6 cm (F), and 18.2 ± 6.5 cm (NI). Mean PSLR scores were 88.0 ± 14.2° (E), 83.4 ± 10.8° (VG), 83.7 ± 8.6° (G), 78.4 ± 18.0° (F), and 73.2 ± 12.8° (NI). From one-way ANOVA, PSLR differed somewhat according to fitness category (F = 2.5, p = .052). However, post hoc analyses revealed mean differences were not significant (p = .09 to 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: In young, physically active men, SR box scores do not provide adequate assessment of hip flexibility and in fact, average PSLR scores were below 90° in those that attained excellent and very good SR box scores. We recommend that the SR box scores of young physically active men be interpreted with caution and be replaced with the PSLR test.
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