Shoulder and Wrist

The objective of this test is to monitor the development of the athlete’s shoulder and wrist flexibility.

🔰Required resources

To undertake this test you will require:
⧭18 inch stick
⧭1 meter ruler
⧭Assistant

🔰How to conduct the test

Starting position

⧭ Lay prone on the floor with the arms fully extended holding a stick.

🔰Movement

⧭ Raise the stick as high as possible, keeping the nose on the ground
⧭ Measure the vertical distance the stick rises from the floor to the nearest 1/2 inch

⧭ Repeat the test 3 times and record the best distance

⧭ Measure the arm length from the acromial extremity to the tip of the longest finger

⧭ Subtract the best score from the arm length.

🔰Analysis

Normative data for the shoulder & wrist flexibility test

Table adapted from Johnson B.L. & Nelson J.K. Practical Measurements for Evaluation in PE 4th Ed. 1986

🔰Target group

This test is suitable for active individuals but not for those where the test would be contraindicated.

🔰Reliability

Reliability would depend upon how strict the test is conducted and the individual’s level of motivation to perform the test.

🔰Validity

There are published tables to relate results to potential level of flexibility and the correlation is high.

🔰On-line calculator

Select the following link to access the on-line calculator

static flexibility test – shoulder and wrist.htm