Factorial analysis study of physical flexibility concerning the validity of the method used and the selection of the measuring items / 体力科学

ABSTRACT

The first object of this study was to investigate the constituent factor of physical flexibility. The second purpose was to reconsider if the measures of physical flexibility which have been customarily used are valid, and choose those measures which have high validity. To investigate this the method of factor analysis was used.<BR>The following results were obtained<BR>1) It has been recognized that there are eight constituent factors (F1-F8) of physical flexibility. Of those factors, the first concerns the flexibility of the trunk.<BR>2) To choose the measurement items, it is valid to choose those items which showed a high factor loading to each factor. In this study, seven items (trunk flexion, upperarm raising, sideward neck bending, instep flexion and extension, wrist pronation and supination) were chosen.<BR>3) From the results written above, it can be seen that it is inappropriate and insufficient to measure only the flexibility of the trunk. But to simplify the measurement method, physical flexibility can be estimated by measuring trunk flexion and sidewards bending.