Normal Values of Functional Reach and Lateral Reach Tests in Indian School Children

Purpose: To establish normal values for functional reach (FR) and lateral reach (LR) in school children and to study the correlation of anthropometric measures with FR and LR values and the association between FR and LR scores. Methods: A total of 350 children aged 6 to 12 years were randomly selected. Three successive trials of FR and LR with the child standing with feet shoulder width apart were performed and the mean of 3 trials was calculated. Results: Normal values of FR and LR were obtained. Pearson product moment correlation was used to examine the association of FR and LR to age, gender, and anthropometric measures. Stepwise regression analysis was done to obtain normal values of FR and LR with respect to height. Functional reach values significantly predicted LR values and vice versa. Conclusion: Normal mean values of FR and LR range from 22.7 cm to 37 cm and 16.3 cm to 22.5 cm, respectively. Height significantly correlates with both FR and LR. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2011;23:23-30)