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Intervening factors in forward flexibility of the trunk in adolescents in sitting and standing position
N M Lamari1, J A Cordeiro, L C Marinon
1Physiotherapy Service, Department of Neurological Science, Medical School of São José do Rio Preto, FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, San Paolo, Brazil. neuselim@terra.com.br
Aim:
Forward flexibility of the trunk (FFT) is used as an indicator of vertebral function and assessed using the sit-and-reach and fingertip-ground tests.
Methods:
FFT was investigated in adolescents and comparisons were made among genders, sitting and standing positions, and low and high speed; 102 males and females (16 to 20 years of age) participated in the study.
Results:
The position of the body and gender factor had no influence over the flexibility assessment. When executed slowly, the values obtained in the test were significantly lower; 60% of the participants were unable to reach their feet in the slow form and 50% were unable to reach their feet in the fast form. Thus, the assessment of vertebral function in adolescents should not use the ability to reach their feet as a criterion of normality. The fingertip-ground and sit-and-reach tests proved to be equally adequate. Greater height and length of limbs are associated to lower FFT values. Greater height and lower trunk-head height explain the lesser FFT in women; greater length of the lower limbs and lesser arm span explain the results for men.
Conclusions:
Reaching the feet in either the standing or sitting position is a criterion that excludes approximately 50% of adolescents from the normality of vertebral function, whereas reaching 12 cm above the ground is achieved by 90% of the population. Therefore, the criteria for assessing FFT in adolescents need to be reviewed.
