§ 01Functional Independence Tests
Clinical fitness assessmentChair Sit and Reach
Assess lower body flexibility (hamstrings) in a seated position.
Equipment
Standard chair, ruler or tape measure.
The protocol
- 01Client sits on the front edge of a chair with one leg extended forward, heel on the floor, toes pointing up.
- 02The other foot is flat on the floor, knee bent.
- 03With hands overlapping and arms extended, the client slowly reaches toward the toes of the extended leg.
- 04Hold the maximum reach for 2 seconds.
- 05Measure the distance between the fingertips and the tip of the shoe: positive if past the toes, negative if short.
- 06Best of 2 attempts.
What to watch for
- Bending the knee of the extended leg.
- Bouncing to reach further.
- Not holding the maximum reach for 2 seconds.
Normative scoring
Age 60-64: M -6.4 to +10.2 cm, F -1.3 to +12.7 cm. Age 70-74: M -8.9 to +7.6, F -2.5 to +10.2. Age 80-84: M -14.0 to +3.8, F -5.1 to +7.6.
Run it with GainPT
Run this test with branded client reports.
GainPT scores Chair Sit and Reach against published normative data and turns it into a clean, GainPT-branded PDF your client keeps. All 47 clinical tests, unlimited retests — free to start, no card required.