How do you evaluate client mobility for functional training?

1 Test 1: Overhead Squat

The overhead squat is a great way to test your client's mobility in their ankles, knees, hips, spine, and shoulders. To perform this test, have your client stand with their feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dowel or a broomstick over their head with their arms straight. Ask them to squat down as low as possible while keeping their heels on the ground, their chest up, and their arms aligned with their ears. As they perform the movement, look out for signs of limited mobility such as bending the elbows or lowering the arms, rounding the back or leaning forward, collapsing the knees inward or outward, and lifting the heels off the ground or turning the feet out. This will help you assess your client's mobility more accurately.

2 Test 2: Active Straight Leg Raise

The active straight leg raise is a simple way to test your client's mobility in their hamstrings, calves, and hips. To perform this test, have your client lie on their back with their legs straight and their toes pointed up. Ask them to lift one leg as high as they can, keeping the other leg on the ground and the knees locked. Measure the angle between the raised leg and the ground using a goniometer or a smartphone app; then repeat with the other leg and compare the results. Look out for any signs of limited mobility, such as an inability to raise the leg above 70 degrees, bending of the knee or flexing of the foot, rotating of the hip or pelvis, or feeling pain or tightness in the back of the leg or lower back.

3 Test 3: Shoulder Flexion

The shoulder flexion test is a quick way to assess your client's mobility in their shoulders, upper back, and chest. To perform this test, have them stand with their feet hip-width apart and their arms by their sides. Ask them to raise their arms over their head as high as they can, keeping their elbows straight and palms facing each other. While observing the movement, look for any signs of limited mobility such as bending the elbows or arching the back, shrugging the shoulders or flaring the ribs, narrowing the space between the arms or bringing them forward, or feeling pain or tightness in the shoulders, neck, or chest.

4 Test 4: Thoracic Rotation

The thoracic rotation test is a simple way to assess your client's mobility in their thoracic spine. Have them sit on a chair with their feet flat on the ground and their hands behind their head, then ask them to rotate their torso to one side as far as they can, keeping their hips and lower back still and their elbows wide. Measure the angle between their chest and the front of the chair using a goniometer or a smartphone app. Look for limited mobility, such as being unable to rotate more than 45 degrees, moving the hips or lower back instead of the thoracic spine, narrowing the space between the elbows or dropping the chin, or feeling pain or tightness in the mid-back, ribs, or shoulder blades. These tests can help you evaluate your client's mobility for functional training and identify any areas that need improvement. From there, you can create a personalized functional training program that includes mobility exercises, stretches, and foam rolling to increase your client's range of motion and performance.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?