Cartwright Professional Assessment Tool

Sit & Reach Assessment

Compare a standard sit-and-reach result with published age- and sex-specific reference percentiles from the China National Health Survey (ages 8 to 80).

Age Reference values cover ages 8–80.

Sex used for reference comparison Published percentiles are sex-specific.

Best sit-and-reach result

Negative values are valid when the fingertips do not reach the reference line.

Score convention Use the same scale convention and setup when comparing results over time.

Protocol matters: the published reference study records reach relative to the foot reference line, so 0 cm means the fingertips reach the feet, positive values pass the feet and negative values fall short. Do not enter an unconverted score from a box that uses a fixed offset such as 15 cm or 23 cm at the foot line.

Published 2023 reference data 18,903 sit-and-reach tests Ages 8–80 Age & sex percentiles

Recorded sit-and-reach

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Reference position — Enter your result to compare it with the published norms.

Age group —

Reference sex —

Reference median —

Difference from median —

Reference percentiles for your age and sex

Published 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 95th percentile values for the selected age and sex group.

5th —

25th —

50th —

75th —

95th —

Results are reported as a published percentile band rather than an artificially calculated exact percentile.

How to perform the sit-and-reach test

Reference protocol

Sit in a long-sitting position facing the measuring platform.
Keep both knees fully extended.
Keep the feet dorsiflexed and flat against the foot platform.
Bring the fingertips together at the measuring block.
Reach forward smoothly and push the block along the scale.
Reach as far forward as possible without bending the knees.
Perform two valid attempts.
Record the highest value in centimetres.

Need professional sit-and-reach equipment?

A dedicated sit-and-reach box provides a stable foot platform and repeatable measuring scale for professional flexibility assessment.

View Sit & Reach Box Read Sit & Reach Guide

Understanding your sit-and-reach result

The sit-and-reach test is a simple linear flexibility assessment influenced particularly by hamstring extensibility and trunk mobility. It provides a useful field measure, but it is not a complete assessment of whole-body flexibility.

This calculator compares the measured value with the published percentile points for the appropriate age and sex group. It reports a percentile band rather than creating an unsupported exact percentile between published values.

Reference-population limitation: the normative values come from the China National Health Survey. They provide a large published benchmark but should not be treated as universal norms for all ethnic, sporting, occupational or clinical populations.

What does the sit-and-reach test actually measure?

Sit-and-reach performance is commonly used as a practical indicator of hamstring and lumbar flexibility. However, reach distance is also influenced by anthropometry such as relative arm, leg and trunk length.

Research reviewing sit-and-reach validity shows that the test is generally more useful as an indicator of hamstring extensibility than as a precise measurement of lumbar flexibility. This is why it is best used as one component of a broader assessment rather than as a diagnostic test.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sit-and-reach test measure?

It is a field assessment of flexibility that is particularly influenced by hamstring extensibility and trunk movement.

What is a good sit-and-reach score?

There is no single good value for every person. Age, sex, population and the measurement setup all affect scores. This tool therefore compares the result with age- and sex-specific reference data.

Can a sit-and-reach result be negative?

Yes. On a scale where the reference line corresponds to the foot position, a negative result means the fingertips stopped before that reference point.

How many attempts should I perform?

The China National Health Survey protocol used for these reference values performed two attempts and recorded the maximum result.

Should the knees stay straight?

Yes. The knees should remain fully extended throughout the reach. Allowing the knees to flex changes the test and can increase the score.

Can I compare scores from different sit-and-reach boxes?

Not automatically. Different boxes and test protocols can use different zero points and scale offsets. Confirm that the measurement convention is equivalent before comparing absolute scores.

Does sit-and-reach measure lower-back flexibility?

It is influenced by lumbar movement, but research suggests it is a stronger field indicator of hamstring flexibility than a precise standalone measurement of lumbar flexibility.

Should I use the best or average result?

Use the best result when comparing against this calculator because the normative study performed two trials and retained the maximum value.

Scientific methodology & references

Primary normative reference:
He H, Pan L, Wang D, Du J, Pa L, Wang H, Zhao J, Peng X, Shan G. The normative values of vertical jump and sit-and-reach in a large general Chinese population aged 8–80 years: The China National Health Survey. Global Transitions. 2023;5:141–148. DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2023.08.003.

The study included 19,269 participants. Sit-and-reach testing was completed by 18,903 participants and published reference tables provide the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 95th centiles by age and sex.

The calculator embeds the published values directly. It does not interpolate exact percentiles or extrapolate age-specific normative values. These are reference percentiles for the study population, not diagnostic cut-offs or universal standards.

Supporting validity reference:
Mayorga-Vega D, Merino-Marban R, Viciana J. Criterion-related validity of sit-and-reach tests for estimating hamstring and lumbar extensibility: a meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine. 2014;13:1–14.

Methodology reviewed: September 2026
Calculator version: 1.0
Purpose: Professional education and benchmarking
Normative population: China National Health Survey
Sit-and-reach sample: 18,903 participants
Reference age range: 8–80 years

This assessment is not diagnostic. Results should be interpreted alongside the testing protocol, measurement scale, anthropometry and other relevant physical assessments.

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