The suitability of the „toe-touch” test for functional testing in physiotherapy

Michał Kuszewski, Henryk Knapik, Edward Saulicz, Rafał Gnat, Mirosław Kokosz

Michał Kuszewski, Henryk Knapik, Edward Saulicz, Rafał Gnat, Mirosław Kokosz – The suitability of the „toe-touch” test for functional testing in physiotherapy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2004; 4(4); 378-384

Abstract

Background. The objective of our study was to specify the relationship between selected flexibility parameters and the results of the „toe-touch” test. Material and methods. We examined 190 people from 18 to 51 years of age (ave. 23.8 ± 5.7). In each subject, global flexibility in the sagittal plane was tested with the „toe-touch” test, then the mobility of the upper and lower lumbar spine and both hip joints was examined, as was the range of plantar flexion of the ankle (an indirect indication of the length of the muscles of the dorsal aspect of the leg) and possible shortening of the hamstrings. A Saunders’ electronic goniometer was used to make measurements (in the lower lumbar spine Schober’s measurement was also utilized). The product-moment Pearson’s correlation test was used to estimate connections between parameters. Results. Significant correlations were registered between the results of the toe-touch test and the following parameters: mobility of the upper (r = 0.79) and lower lumbar spine (r = 0.70), shortening of the hamstrings (r = -0.67), mobility of both hip joints (r = 0.36 and r = 0.34), and the range of plantar flexion of both ankle joints (r = 0.33 and r = 0.25). There was no significant connection between the „toe-touch” test and the results of Schober’s measurement. Conclusion. The „toe-touch” test is a quick, simple and reliable way to evaluate the functional status of the lower spine and lower extremities.

Key words:
flexibility parameters, lumbar spinal mobility, crural muscles, plantar flexion of the ankle, shortening of the hamstrings hip mobility
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