Test Validity

Naspe recommends the trunk lift as a test to measure lower back strength. Also, the Cooper Institute validated the trunk test for for ages 5 to 17+ for trunk extensor and flexibility. The test measures what it is suppose to measure which is the trunk extensor strength and flexibility and its relationship to low back health, especially proper vertebral alignment. Musculoskeletal fitness of the abdominal muscles, hamstrings, and back extensors work together to maintain posture and low back health. And, as we know maintaining low back health is crucial to students as they work to stay healthy for a lifetime. (In adults, lower back pain is a common complaint, so working on the trunk lift can help youngsters develop healthy lower backs for a lifetime).

Possible Class Preparation

As mentioned in the preparation for assessment and how to improve in and out of class sections of the blog, we will be doing a number of stretches and yoga exercises for 15-20 minutes (on some days) prior to our activity of the day. We will do extension exercises, such as the cobra, along with the cat and camel. We will also do the quadrupled arm/leg raise and repeat sets of the mid-back stretch, the pelvic tilt and the lumbar rotation.

Next Trunk Lift Assessment 7/26

Students will once again be tested in room 131 Dance/Fitness Room of the Physical Education Building. The test objective is to lift the upper body off the floor using the muscles of the back and hold the position to allow for measurement. If both girls and boys fall in the 9-12 inches range, they're in the healthy zone. If both boys and girls fail to raise their upper body 9 inches, then they fall into the needs improvement range.

Room 131 Physical Fitness/Dance Room

We will be meeting in room 131 (Fitness/Dance Room) of the Physical Education Building. Come on out for the Trunk Lift. We'll See you there!!

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TRUNK EXTENSOR FOR

STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY

How to Improve In and Out of Class

Some of the stretches students can work on at home (with their parents) is the extension exercise. This is where students gradually go from a laying down position, to propping themselves up on their elbows, to finally propping themselves up on their hands (with their head and eyes facing forward). You want to make sure you keep your hips down on the floor and hold the position a couple of seconds before gently lowering yourself down. You can do this stretch 8-10 times.
There are a number of other stretches students have been given on their hand out, such as the quadruped arm/leg raise, pelvic tilt, lumbar rotation, cat and camel, and the mid-back stretch. There are also a number of abdominal exercises that can be worked on at home as well, including various crunches (described with proper form on the handout), toe touches, leg lifts and oblique movements.

Preparation for Assessment

In preparation for the test we have practiced the actual test. We use mats for students to lie on and use poker chips for students to focus their eyes on to keep their heads in the neutral position. We also let the students pick their partners which helps keep the privacy factor during the test.
Also in preparing for our Trunk Lift, we our doing plenty of stretching and yoga exercises. We spend the first 15 minutes of our physical education class doing either stretching or yoga exercises. Since the Trunk Lift involves the core muscles, we are also working on our abdominal muscles. Thus, we rotate our warm-up exercises each day with either stretching or stomach strengthening exercises. The students have all been given a handout for both lower back and stomach exercises, and the various stretches and abdominal movements are also posted throughout the gymnasium.