Question

Rudra is working on a project to collect data for assessing Physical Fitness amongst Senior Citizens at his residential complex. He plans to administer test for assessing Lower Body Flexibility; Upper Body Flexibility and Lower Body Strength. List the test(s) he should conduct and also explain in detail the procedure of its administration along with scoring system.

Answer 1

Rudra should use the following three test items from the Rikli and Jones Senior Fitness Test:

Component to be assessed	Test to be administered
Lower Body Flexibility	Chair Sit and Reach Test
Upper Body Flexibility	Back Scratch Test
Lower Body Strength	Chair Stand Test

1. Chair Stand Test — Lower Body Strength

• Objective: To complete maximum number of stands in 30 seconds.
• Equipment: A straight-back or folding chair without armrests, seat height about 17 inches/44 cm, and a stopwatch.
• Procedure:
  1. Place the chair against a wall or in a stable position.
  2. The participant sits with back straight, arms crossed at the wrist and held close to the chest, and feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart.
  3. On the command 'GO', the participant stands up completely, then returns to the seated position. This counts as one stand.
  4. The participant is encouraged to do maximum number of stands in 30 seconds.
• Scoring: The score is the number of completed chair stands in 30 seconds. If the participant is halfway through a stand when time ends, it is counted as a full stand.

2. Chair Sit and Reach Test — Lower Body Flexibility

• Objective: To stretch the lower body as far as possible.
• Equipment: A straight-back or folding chair about 17 inches/44 cm high and a ruler or scale.
• Procedure:
  1. Place the chair against a wall for stability.
  2. The participant sits on the chair with one foot flat on the floor and the other leg extended forward with the knee straight, heel on the floor, and ankle bent at 90°.
  3. One hand is placed on top of the other with the tips of the middle fingers even.
  4. The participant bends at the hip and slides the hands toward the toes, holding the final position for at least 2 seconds.
• Scoring: The score is recorded to the nearest 1/2 inch or 1 cm. A negative score is recorded if the fingers do not reach the toes; a positive score is recorded if the fingers pass beyond the toes. The leg used for measurement is recorded.

3. Back Scratch Test — Upper Body Flexibility

• Objective: To touch or overlap the fingers of both hands behind the back.
• Equipment: An 18-inch ruler.
• Procedure:
  1. The participant stands and places the left arm straight up above the left shoulder.
  2. The left arm is then bent at the elbow to reach down the back with fingers extended, and the elbow points toward the ceiling.
  3. The right hand is placed in the middle of the back from behind with the palm out and fingers extended upward.
  4. The participant tries to reach up as far as possible and attempts to touch the fingers of both hands together.
• Scoring: The distance between the fingertips is measured to the nearest half inch. If the fingertips just touch, the score is 0. If the fingers do not touch, a negative score equal to the distance between the fingertips is given. If the fingers overlap, a positive score equal to the amount of overlap is given.