Clin J Sport Med. 1999 Jan;9(1):24-9.

Adolescent growth is not associated with changes in flexibility.

Feldman D¹, Shrier I, Rossignol M, Abenhaim L.

Author information

1: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether adolescent growth is associated with a decrease in flexibility.

DESIGN:

Longitudinal cohort study of urban high school students.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Flexibility of hamstring muscles (popliteal angle), quadriceps muscles (quadriceps angle), lumbar extensor muscles (Schober test), and combined lower extremity-trunk muscles (Sit and Reach test).

RESULTS:

There was no relation between growth and changes in flexibility for the lumbar flexor muscles, hamstring muscles, or muscles involved in the Sit and Reach test. Although there was a slight decrease in flexibility of the quadriceps muscle with increases in growth, the very low r2adj value (0.01-0.06) strongly suggests that growth plays only a small role in determining the flexibility of individuals.