Simple at Home Fitness Tests, Part 4
/This week lets see how flexible you are? Use the photos below to help guide you.
How flexible is your upper body?
Stand upright and stretch your right arm above your head towards the ceiling. Now bend this arm behind your shoulder and down your back. Now take your left hand and bend it behind your back trying to touch or interlink your hands together. See how you do below and then swap the hands around to do the other side.
Level 1 = Your hands do not touch.
Level 2 = Your fingers are just touching.
Level 3 = Your fingers are interlinked.
How did you score:
- Level 1 = Weak area
- Level 2 = Average
- Level 3 = Excellent
If you scored level 1, try to incorporate stretching exercises into your fitness routines to help ease any tension at the top of your neck and shoulders. This is especially important if you sit at a desk for most of your day.
How flexible is your lower body?
Several postural problems can be caused by extended sitting (as in office work). Hamstrings often suffer as a consequence and tend to shorten and our pelvis can be tilted forward creating tightness in our lower back muscles.
Lie down on your back with your legs out straight in front of you. Raise your right leg up towards the ceiling whilst keeping your left leg flat on the ground. Try to keep both legs out straight until you feel a slight stretch in your right leg (take care not to pull too hard!). Check your score below (a mirror may be useful here) and then try the other side.
- Level 1 = Both legs are half bent.
- Level 2 = Legs are almost straight.
- Level 3 = Legs are straight and flexible enough to be pulled towards the body.
How did you score:
- Level 1 = Weak area
- Level 2 = Average
- Level 3 = Excellent
If you require any help or advice on these tests or exercises that can help with flexibility just get in touch with Red Hot Personal Training!
Lyndsey Slaughter - Red Hot Personal Training