Validity of the Sit and Reach Test for Hamstring and Low Back Flexibility: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26858/cjpko.v18i1.468Keywords:
Sit and Reach Test; Flexibility Assessment; Hamstring Flexibility; Low Back Flexibility; Measurement ValidityAbstract
The sit-and-reach test has been used extensively since its introduction in 1952 as a standard field-based assessment of hamstring and lower back flexibility. Despite its widespread application in physical education, sports training, and clinical settings, the construct validity of this test remains controversial in contemporary scientific literature, particularly when evaluated against objective biomechanical standards. This study aimed to regularly analyze and synthesize empirical evidence regarding the validity of the sit-and-reach test in measuring hamstring and lower back flexibility and to identify key factors contributing to variability in reported validity outcomes. A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for studies published between 2021 and 2025. Six high-quality quantitative studies met the inclusion criteria, consisting of a total sample of 476 participants. Methodological quality was evaluated using a validated assessment tool, and findings were synthesized narratively due to study heterogeneity. The synthesis revealed that the validity of the sit-and-reach test is problematic, with consistently very low GRADE scores across studies. Correlations between sit-and-reach scores and objective isokinetic measures of hamstring function were only fair (r = 0.330–0.449), accounting for approximately 11–20% of the variance. Performance outcomes reflect a complex interaction of thoracic and lumbar spine mobility, hip flexion, and compensatory lower-extremity movements rather than isolated hamstring or lower back flexibility. Variations in validity were influenced by gender differences, testing protocols, and methodological rigor. Strong empirical evidence indicates that the sit-and-reach test lacks sufficient validity for specifically measuring hamstring and lower back flexibility in healthy adult populations, highlighting the need for more anatomically specific and biomechanically grounded assessment tools.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ilham Kamaruddin, Acep Nasyarullah Arsyad, Baharuddin, Muh. Fatih Zulfikar Firman, Hasnullah (Author); Al Ihksanul Muhabbah (Translator)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
