RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF BACK AND HAMSTRING MUSCLES IN PERFORMANCE OF TOE-TOUCH TEST AFTER SELECTED EXTENSIBILITY EXERCISES

Thirty-three college men doing the toe-touch test were used as subjects to ascertain the relative contribution of the back and hamstring muscles to hip joint flexibility. The subjects, performing six tests over a 5-week period, were photographed during each of their tests. Anthropometric measurements were taken prior to testing to determine if there was any relationship to flexibility. Making use of concentric circles and marking reference points on the subject prior to testing, it was possible to ascertain the curvature of the back, the angle of straight back flexibility, and the angle of bent back flexibility. Results indicate that the extensibility of the hamstring muscles appeared to be one of the main contributing factors to hip joint flexion, and since the warm-up did not affect the flexibility of the back, one might conclude that the back made no increased contribution to hip joint flexion, as measured in this study. There was no significant relationship to the angle of bent back flexibility. © 1968 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.