ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2011 April;170(2):73-82

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Relationship between the functional reach and various physical fitness components

Uchiyama M., Demura S.

¹ Research and Education Center for Comprehensive Science, Akita Prefectural University Kaidobata-Nishi, Shimoshinjo-Nakano, Akita, Japan 2 Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Aim. This study aimed to reveal the interrelationship between performances in the two kinds of Functional Reach Tests (FRTs) (normal FRT and FRT using an elastic stick) and various physical fitness components.
Methods. Twelve healthy males had their physique, muscle strength (plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, knee flexion and extension strengths), flexibility (static maximum range of motion of shoulder, hip and ankle, spinal rotation test, and sit-and-reach test), and balance (single-limb stance) measured and were then asked to perform two kind of FRTs. Performance in both FRTs was assessed by reach distance, reaching movement (rotation angles of shoulder, hip and ankle), medio-lateral and anterio-posterior center of pressure (COP) sway amplitudes, and integrated surface electromyogram (iEMG) of the lower limb.
Results. Significant correlation coefficients between both FRTs were found for 8 parameters, not including the shoulder flexion angle and the medio-lateral COP sway amplitude during the reaching movement. The reach distance of the normal FRT showed a positive and moderately significant correlation to the shoulder flexion angle during reaching and a negative and moderately significant correlation to the iEMG of the gastrocnemius muscle. The reach distance of the elastic stick FRT showed a positive and moderately significant correlation to the shoulder flexion angle during reaching.
Conclusion. The normal FRT and the elastic stick FRT scores have low relationships to static balance, flexibility, lower limb muscle strength and so on. The score of both tests assesses almost the same physical fitness elements and relates to the flexion angle of shoulder joint during the reaching movement.