Trunk Extension Test For Tennis | 4.05

Second Edition · Chapter 3 Assessment · Original Test · 4.05

Assess hip flexor and abdominal flexibility by observing whether the front of the hips stays in contact with the mat as the trunk rises.

How To Perform The Test

  1. Place a mat on the floor and lie face down.
  2. Position the hands directly beneath the shoulders and keep the head neutral, looking straight ahead.
  3. Extend the elbows fully to lift the upper trunk, attempting to keep the hips in contact with the floor.
  4. Observe the anterior superior iliac spines (ASISs) at the front of the pelvis when the elbows are fully straight. Record how far the hips lift, if at all.

Book precaution: Do not perform this test if the athlete has a history of lower-back pain.

Photographic Example

Retain the original low-back-pain exclusion. Record the actual pelvic contact or gap and the ASIS reference used. The source’s one-inch Fair/Poor wording does not define a reproducible measuring axis clearly; do not score a precise distance from camera perspective.

The photograph shows the end position with the arms straight, head facing forward, and legs extended. Score actual hip contact during the test rather than estimating a one-inch distance from the image alone.

Side view of an athlete performing the trunk extension flexibility test with arms straight and lower body on the mat
Full elbow extension with the trunk raised; check pelvic contact against the mat in person.

Scoring From The Tennis Book

  • Good: the hips remain fully in contact with the floor.
  • Fair: the hips lift up to 1 inch below the ASISs.
  • Poor: the hips lift more than 1 inch below the ASISs.

Record pelvic contact, the gap, the ASIS landmark and the measurement method at full elbow extension. This combined task does not isolate hip-flexor or abdominal flexibility. The source does not define a reproducible measuring axis for its Fair/Poor distinction; retain the observation rather than assigning a precise score from an unstandardised gap.

If Trunk Extension Is Limited

The tennis book recommends Lunge & Overhead Reach and Scorpion Stretch to improve range of motion. The Scorpion Stretch does not yet have a dedicated exercise guide here. Follow the book’s technique and retest using the same setup.

Book Reference

4.05 Trunk Extension Test, original reference retained in Chapter 3 of the Second Edition of Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning for Tennis. Return to Fitness Assessment.