title: Criterion-related validity of four clinical tests used to measure hamstring flexibility in professional futsal players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the criterion related validity of the sit-and-reach test (SR), toe touch test (TT), modified sit-and-reach test (MSR) and back-saver sit-and-reach test (BSSR) for estimating hamstring flexibility measured through the passive straight leg raise test (PSLR) in professional futsal players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and three futsal players (55 males age 26 ± 4 years, 48 females age 23 ± 5 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two trials of SR, TT, MSR, BSSR (left and right) and PSLR right and left (hamstring criterion measure) in a randomized order.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis was performed to examine the association of SR, TT, MSR and BSSR with PSLR in both males and females separately. In males, only MSR test had moderate association criterion with PSLR (R(2) = 0.57). In females, SR (R(2) = 0.86), TT (R(2) = 0.85), MSR (R(2) = 0.53) and average BSSR (R(2) = 0.82) were associated with PSLR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SR, TT, MSR and BSSR had moderate criterion related validity for estimating hamstring flexibility in female but not male professional futsal players. The authors recommend that researchers, clinicians, and physical therapists adopt one angular test as a measure of hamstring muscle length in futsal players.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Sports, Catholic University of San Antonio, Murcia, Spain. Fayala@pdi.ucam.edu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sainz de Baranda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Ste Croix
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santonja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D018583:Pliability / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic