sit-and-reach test

[coach hale]

Question: I joined a Fitness club last week and they tested my flexibility. The test they used was a sit and reach test. Do you think this is a good test of flexibility?
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Answer: There is no One test that measures overall flexibility (range of motion of a specific joint). Flexibility varies from joint to joint, shows different properties under static versus dynamic conditions, and involves all components of the musculoskeletal system, as well as various types of stretch reflex. Testing overall flexibility would require numerous tests.

thanks,
Coach Hale

[Phaedrus49er]

Would it be too dogmatic to say flexibility is relatively worthless compared to mobility? Flexibility obviously has its place in some areas, but where would a muscle's length (longer = more flexible) be beneficial to just about any kind of athletic training where muscles are under stress to shorten? Stretch to maintain a muscle length homeostasis, but in the big scheme of things, I think more people are worried about flexibility than full-ROM mobility, which is where you really start to see mechanical breakdowns and subsequent injuries.