Test Your Flexibility

Flexibility is like real estate -- it all depends on location. Some of you may be able to twist your neck around like a horror-movie monster, while others have hamstrings that are tighter than football pants. To test your flexibility, try these exercises. But do not force them or elicit pain -- they are not designed to cause you disability, just to test your current state. If you have doubts, only do them with professional guidance. You can also perform these tests daily to improve your flexibility.

	Forearms: Place the backs of your hands against each other, dangling upside down (see figure) for 30 to 60 seconds. If any numbness or tingling develops on the surface of the thumb or the index or middle fingers, it may mean that you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
	Hips: Sit, rest one leg on its heel, then try to rotate your leg approximately 45 degrees in both directions. Reverse legs and repeat. Normal rotation is 45 degrees.
	Shoulders: Reach behind your back with one arm, and touch the opposite shoulder blade. Reach up over your shoulder with the other arm, and try to touch hands (see figure). Reverse arms and repeat. If you can't touch hands, you likely have tight muscles or weak rotator cuffs.
	Neck: Tilt your head down to your chest and then up and back, so you're looking toward the ceiling. Normal neck flexion allows your chin to be about a finger's length away from your chest. Normal neck extension means you can look up high enough so that eye, earlobe, and shoulder are all in a straight line. That's usually a bit farther than most people can go, so don't force it; just gradually work to get a better range of motion.