Calf Muscle Flexibility Test
The Calf Muscle Flexibility Test is a simple indirect flexibility test of the calf muscles, which only requires a wall and a ruler. How far away from a wall can you touch the wall with your knee while keeping your heel on the ground?
equipment required: wall, ruler or tape measure.
pre-test: Explain the test procedures to the subject. Perform screening of health risks and obtain informed consent. Prepare forms and record basic information such as age, height, body weight, gender, test conditions. See more details of pre-test procedures.
procedure: the subject stands a short distance away from a wall, with one leg in front of the other. Keeping the heel of the front foot on the ground, try and bend at the knee and touch the knee to the wall. If done successfully, move further away from the wall and try again. Keep repeating this action until you are unable to touch the wall. Measure the distance from the front of the foot to the wall at the maximum distance the knee could touch the wall. Repeat the same procedure for each leg.
scoring: measure the maximum distance from the toe to the
wall. There are no norms available for this test.
disadvantages: Variations in leg length can make comparisons between individuals misleading. Unless you are testing a fairly homogeneous group, it is best to use this test to monitor changes over time in the same individual.
Similar Tests
- Side-Bending Test
- Floor Touch Test (Kraus-Webber)
Related Pages
- More flexibility tests
- See also the calf flexibility exercises on this list of stretches
- Flexibility Test Videos
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