Assessment of flexibility in young female skaters with the modified Marshall test

A cross-sectional study was performed on 62 female precision ice skaters to determine whether a modified Marshall Test is a reliable measure of consti tutional flexibility in young female athletes. These skaters were from the Colonial Precision Skating Club of Acton, Massachusetts. Chronologic age ra nged from 7 to 18 years with an average of 12.5 years (SD, 2.6 years). All skaters were assigned a modified Marshall Test score (Micheli's 5-point sco re) for both left and right thumbs. This score was then compared with their hamstring-flexibility measure (left and right) and the external and intern al rotation (ER and IR, respectively) of their shoulders. Positive linear r elationships were found between Micheli's 5-point score (MS) on the right s ide and both left and right hamstring and shoulder flexibility. However, th e left-side MS was positively correlated only with the left hamstring and l eft shoulder flexibility. We conclude that the modified Marshall test is a reliable predictor of upper and lower extremity flexibility in female adole scent athletes.