Lunge

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Instructions Preparation Stand with hands on hips. Execution Lunge forward with first leg. Land on heel then forefoot. Lower body by flexing knee and hip of front leg until knee of rear leg is almost in contact with floor. Return to original standing position by forcibly extending the hip and knee of the forward leg. Repeat by alternating lunge with opposite leg Measurement In addition to above instructions, test administrator assesses subject's completion of movement using following criteria: Lumbar spine movement is minimal Hip of trailing leg completely extends at lowest position Knee is very close to floor Knees are aligned with feet Balance is maintained throughout movement Comments Test subject may need to wear shorts or pull up sweat pants from around knees and remove shirt or roll up shirt from around hips so test administrator can observe these body segments during this test. Test administrator may ask subject to perform both long and short lunges to better test ankle dorsal flexion and hip extension respectively.

Assesses Functional Mobility (step leg) Hip Flexion Can not descend far enough for trailing knee to lower near floor Possible tight Adductor Magnus Possible weak hip extensors Adductor Magnus Gluteus Maximus Ankle Dorsal Flexion (short lunge) Front heel raises at lowest position May indicate Soleus inflexibility Functional Mobility (trailing leg) Hip Extension (long lunge) Hip of trailing leg is not completely extended at lowest position may indicate Rectus Femoris inflexibility Dynamic Stability Ankle, Knee, Hip Hip Abductors Sudden drop of hip of step leg while stepping On one leg before planting heel Weak Hip Adductors Gluteus Medius Gluteus Minimus Balance