The purpose of the study was to quantify the relative contribution of low back flexibility and hamstring flexibility in the sit and reach test item of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in order to examine the validity of the sit and reach test. Subjects were 100 female students, 13 to 15 years of age in physical education classes. Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Leighton flexometer. Spinal mobility was measured using a tape measure. The sit and reach test was performed according to instructions given in the AAHPERD Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) hamstring flexibility is moderately related to the sit and reach test, (2) low back flexibility has a very small relationship to the sit and reach test, and (3) the sit and reach test is an inadequate measure of low back and hamstring flexibility.

The purpose of this study was to examine the criterion-related validity of the sit and reach test as a measure of hamstring and low back flexibility in adult males and females. Subjects were 52 males and 52 females, 20 to 45 years of age. Hamstring flexibility was measured using a goniometer. Spinal flexibility was measured using a tape measure and an inclinometer. The sit and reach test was performed according to the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlations and appropriate descriptive statistics. Conclusions of the investigation were: 1) in adult males 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a valid measure of hamstring flexibility but has questionable validity as a measure of low back flexibility, 2) in adult females 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a moderately valid measure of hamstring flexibility and is not a valid measure of low back flexibility.

One very common axiom amongst Strength and Conditioning Professionals and Athletic Performance Coaches is that the least flexible athletes usually produce the fastest 40-yard dash times. Flexibility, in this case specifically refers to posterior chain flexibility (PCF). This is usually measured by athletes ability to perform a sit-and-reach test. This train of thought has been widely accepted within the human performance professions, even though it is void of any scientific investigation or measured validity. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between posterior chain flexibility using the sit-and-reach test and speed in the 40-yard dash. All test subjects were male between the ages of 18-22, and members of a Division I university football team. All 95 test subjects had participated in at least one semester of a strength and conditioning program designed by Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists. Similar of the study done by Johnson (2001), each athlete was placed in a group based on position, line of scrimmage groups (LOS), Skill group (receivers, cornerbacks, rover linebackers, whip linebackers, and safeties), Combo group (inside linebackers, tight ends, quarterbacks, tailbacks, fullbacks, and defensive ends), Specialist group (place- kickers, kick-off specialists, holders, and punters). Each test subject was tested in the 40-yard dash, the sit-and-reach flexibility test, as well as other tests for strength and power such as the bench press, front squat, push jerk, power clean, vertical jump, and agility tests. Body weight and height was also measured. This study used a simple linear regression on the data where the Sit-and-Reach test results were the dependent variable and the subjects timed results in a 40 yard dash was the independent variable. There appears to be no significant relationship between a low flexibility score and the sprint speed of an athlete for the entire group population. The results also show that there is no significant relationship between flexibility of the posterior chain and linear speed as measured in the 40-yard dash when looking at football players that fall under the Combo, Skill, or LOS position groups. There was however a significant relationship for the specialist group. The theory that the least flexible athletes usually produce the fastest 40-yard dash times is not true for those specific groups. / Ph. D.

THE INFLUENCE OF STRETCHING EXERCISES ON THE RANGE OF JOINT FLEXIBILITY IN STUDENTS AT JAN EVANGELISTA PURKYNĚ UNIVERSITY IN ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM The dissertation evaluates the influence of stretching exercises on the range of joint flexibility in students of the study programme Physical Education and Sport at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. In total, 128 students aged 21 - 25 (78 women, 50 men) enrolled in the subject Basic Gymnastics took part in the experiment, conducted in the period from February to May of the academic year 2008/2009. Of these, 59 students were excluded by a physiotherapist - i.e. hypermobile men and hypermobile women as well as women with normal flexibility (excluded purposefully) subject to the results of the Thomayer test. In total, data from 39 men and 30 women were used. From April 2009, over a period of six weeks (before the end of the summer term tuition), an intervention flexibility programme including the Anderson static stretching method and the PNF stretching method by Sölveborn were applied for the research file. To evaluate the level of joint flexibility, the Sit and Reach Test and credit exercise to estimate joint flexibility were used. In a controlled interview, out-of-school activities were analysed, which contained stretching exercises with a...

THE INFLUENCE OF STRETCHING EXERCISES ON THE RANGE OF JOINT FLEXIBILITY IN STUDENTS AT JAN EVANGELISTA PURKYNĚ UNIVERSITY IN ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM The dissertation evaluates the influence of stretching exercises on the range of joint flexibility in students of the study programme Physical Education and Sport at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. In total, 128 students aged 21 - 25 (78 women, 50 men) enrolled in the subject Basic Gymnastics took part in the experiment, conducted in the period from February to May of the academic year 2008/2009. Of these, 59 students were excluded by a physiotherapist - i.e. hypermobile men and hypermobile women as well as women with normal flexibility (excluded purposefully) subject to the results of the Thomayer test. In total, data from 39 men and 30 women were used. From April 2009, over a period of six weeks (before the end of the summer term tuition), an intervention flexibility programme including the Anderson static stretching method and the PNF stretching method by Sölveborn were applied for the research file. To evaluate the level of joint flexibility, the Sit and Reach Test and credit exercise to estimate joint flexibility were used. In a controlled interview, out-of-school activities were analysed, which contained stretching exercises with a...

Esse estudo analisou os efeitos de 10 semanas de treinamento contra resistência, sobre a composição corporal, a força muscular e a flexibilidade de 11 mulheres idosas (68,91 ± 5,43 anos). Um grupo de 8 idosas (65,13 ±4,09 anos) serviu como controle inativo. A força de preensão manual (ambas as mãos), o percentual de gordura corporal (dobras cutâneas e bioimpedância) e a flexibilidade (teste \"sentar e alcançar\") foram avaliados antes e após 10 semanas. A força muscular isotônica foi avaliada pelas cargas de treinamento. Após as avaliações iniciais, os indivíduos começaram o programa de treinamento que consistiu de oito exercícios (peito, costas, ombro, bíceps, tríceps, coxa, panturrilha e abdome), sem a realização de exercício para flexibilidade. O programa de treinamento resultou em aumentos significativos (p< 0,001) na força muscular isotônica, para todos os exercícios, com aumentos percentuais que variaram de 25,91% a 49,09%, para tríceps e panturrilha, respectivamente. Verificaram se aumentos significativos (p < 0,001) na força de preensão manual de ambas as mãos e também na flexibilidade no grupo submetido a treinamento. O programa de treinamento não resultou em alteração na gordura corporal avaliada por bioímpedância e equação de dobras cutâneas, contudo verificou-se redução no &#931; 8DC (p&#8804;0,01). Não foram observadas alterações no grupo controle, em nenhuma variável investigada. Conclui-se que o programa de treinamento utilizado foi eficaz para aumentar a força muscular e a flexibilidade das mulheres idosas, reduzir o &#931; 8DC, contudo não provocou redução do percentual de gordura corporal. / This study analyzed the effects of a 10-wk resistance training program on body composition, muscle strength and flexibility in 11 elderly women (68.91 ± 5.43 yr.). A control group of 8 women (65.13 ± 4.09 yr.) served as inactive controls. Hand grip strength (both hands), body fat percent (skinfold thickness and bioelectrical impedance) and flexibility ( \"sit and reach\" test) were assessed before and after 10 weeks . The isotonic muscle strength were assessed by the weight of training . After initial tests, the subjects began a training program consisting of eight exercises for all body (chest, back, shoulder, biceps, triceps, thigh, calf and abdomen), without flexibility exercises. The training program resulted in significant increase (p< 0.001) in isotonic muscle strength, for all exercises, with increases ranged from 25.91% to 49.09%, for triceps and calf, respectively. It was observed significant increase (p<0,001) in hand grip strength (both hands) and flexibility in the training group. The training program resulted in no decrease in body fat assessed by bioelectrical impedance and skinfold thickness equation, but we observed decrease in &#931; 8ST (p&#8804; 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the control group by ariy variable. In conclusion, the training program utilized was effective in increase muscle strength, flexibility and reduced &#931; 8ST. However, the training program did not reduce body fat percentage.

Esse estudo analisou os efeitos de 10 semanas de treinamento contra resistência, sobre a composição corporal, a força muscular e a flexibilidade de 11 mulheres idosas (68,91 ± 5,43 anos). Um grupo de 8 idosas (65,13 ±4,09 anos) serviu como controle inativo. A força de preensão manual (ambas as mãos), o percentual de gordura corporal (dobras cutâneas e bioimpedância) e a flexibilidade (teste \"sentar e alcançar\") foram avaliados antes e após 10 semanas. A força muscular isotônica foi avaliada pelas cargas de treinamento. Após as avaliações iniciais, os indivíduos começaram o programa de treinamento que consistiu de oito exercícios (peito, costas, ombro, bíceps, tríceps, coxa, panturrilha e abdome), sem a realização de exercício para flexibilidade. O programa de treinamento resultou em aumentos significativos (p< 0,001) na força muscular isotônica, para todos os exercícios, com aumentos percentuais que variaram de 25,91% a 49,09%, para tríceps e panturrilha, respectivamente. Verificaram se aumentos significativos (p < 0,001) na força de preensão manual de ambas as mãos e também na flexibilidade no grupo submetido a treinamento. O programa de treinamento não resultou em alteração na gordura corporal avaliada por bioímpedância e equação de dobras cutâneas, contudo verificou-se redução no &#931; 8DC (p&#8804;0,01). Não foram observadas alterações no grupo controle, em nenhuma variável investigada. Conclui-se que o programa de treinamento utilizado foi eficaz para aumentar a força muscular e a flexibilidade das mulheres idosas, reduzir o &#931; 8DC, contudo não provocou redução do percentual de gordura corporal. / This study analyzed the effects of a 10-wk resistance training program on body composition, muscle strength and flexibility in 11 elderly women (68.91 ± 5.43 yr.). A control group of 8 women (65.13 ± 4.09 yr.) served as inactive controls. Hand grip strength (both hands), body fat percent (skinfold thickness and bioelectrical impedance) and flexibility ( \"sit and reach\" test) were assessed before and after 10 weeks . The isotonic muscle strength were assessed by the weight of training . After initial tests, the subjects began a training program consisting of eight exercises for all body (chest, back, shoulder, biceps, triceps, thigh, calf and abdomen), without flexibility exercises. The training program resulted in significant increase (p< 0.001) in isotonic muscle strength, for all exercises, with increases ranged from 25.91% to 49.09%, for triceps and calf, respectively. It was observed significant increase (p<0,001) in hand grip strength (both hands) and flexibility in the training group. The training program resulted in no decrease in body fat assessed by bioelectrical impedance and skinfold thickness equation, but we observed decrease in &#931; 8ST (p&#8804; 0.01). No significant changes were observed in the control group by ariy variable. In conclusion, the training program utilized was effective in increase muscle strength, flexibility and reduced &#931; 8ST. However, the training program did not reduce body fat percentage.