NORMATIVE VALUES OF CALF MUSCLE FLEXIBILITY IN HEALTHY ADULTS: A WEIGHT-BEARING LUNGE TEST ANALYSIS
Description
Background: The Weight-Bearing Lunge Test is a valid and reliable functional assessment tool for measuring calf muscle flexibility. It can be used to measure improvements due to rehabilitation programs in individuals with disabilities. To perform WBLT, the participants are instructed to stand in a tandem stance position facing a wall, with the great toe and the midline of the heel of both feet aligned perpendicular to the wall. While maintaining the alignment, the participants were asked to perform a forward lunge, attempting to touch the wall with the anterior knee while maintaining full heel contact with the floor. Balance was stabilized by placing the hands flat against the wall. If the participant successfully achieved the wall-to-knee contact without heel elevation, then the test foot was progressively moved backwards in 1 cm increments until maximum calf flexibility was achieved. After which, the distance between the great toe and the wall was measured with the help of a measuring tape. Aim: To establish normative values of WBLT and assess the relationship between WBLT performance, gender, and age. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was completed with 500 participants to establish normative values of calf flexibility. Healthy adults aged between 30- 50 years were included in this study. Participants performed three trials on each limb, measuring the distance between the great toeand the wall. The average of the three readings was taken for statistical analysis. Normality of the data was performed using the Kolmogrov-Smirnov test. Descriptive statistics are presented as geometric mean with 95% CI and mean with standard deviation (SD), along with range. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Result: The findings from the Weight-bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) indicated normative values for the right side (9.94 cm) and left side (9.70 cm). Gender-based analysis revealed that males exhibit higher values than females across both limbs. Bilateral asymmetry was observed regardless of gender; the right limb consistently demonstrated greater flexibility than the left. Flexibility peaked within the 30- 34 age group with a max value of 10.45 cm on the right side, while the greatest range of variance in flexibility was observed in the 45-50 year age group. Conclusion: This study established normative values of calf flexibility in healthy adults aged between 30-50 years. Bilateral asymmetry was observed on the right side, which exhibited greater flexibility than the left side. Furthermore, calf flexibility peaked between the 30-34 year age group, confirming that age is a significant determinant of flexibility along with gender. Keywords: Weight-Bearing Lunge Test, Reference, Adults, Calf, Flexibility
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Steps to reproduce
1. Select participants who fit the study criteria 2. Ask them their anthropometric data 3. Explain how to perform the test 4. When the participant perfoms the test than take the readings 5. Distance between the gretaer toe and the wall will be measured.
Institutions
- Maharishi Markandeshwar University, MullanaHaryana, Ambāla