Original Research Article DOI: 10.18231/2348-7682.2018.0027 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 116 

Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children of age 6 to 

12 years 

Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh1, Mrunmayee Mukund Joshi2,* 

1Assistant Professor, 2Internee, Dept. of Neuro-Physiotherapy, VSPM’s College of Physiotherapy, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 

*Corresponding Author: 
Email: mrunmayeemjoshi20@gmail.com 

Abstract 
Modified functional reach test is valid and reliable tool to assess sitting balance in children in forward and lateral direction. Normative data 

of modified functional reach test for school going children has not been established yet in central India, as well correlation of 

anthropometric data with reach distance values not studied, hence this study was undertaken. Total 280 children (6 to 12 years), 140 Boys 

and 140 Girls, were selected by stratified random sampling method, subdivided into 7 subgroups (10B, 10G in each group) from two 

schools. Height was measured using stature meter, trunk length and leg length were measured using measuring tape, weight was measured 

using weighing machine, spinal flexibility was tested with the help of sit and reach test, hamstring angle was measured using goniometer 

by 90-90 test. Child reached with dominant shoulder at 90 degree of flexion and abduction in forward and lateral direction respectively 

while sitting on height adjustable stool with hip and knee at 90 degrees and feet placed neutral on ground. The reach distance was measured 

using a yard stick mounted on the wall, at the height of child’s shoulder. The mean of three successive trials was calculated. Karl Pearson 

correlation moment product was used to determine correlation between age, gender and anthropometric measurements with modified 

forward and lateral reach. Normal values of modified forward and lateral reach were observed as 19.53 to 26.48cm and 17.68 to 22.50cm 

respectively. Height and weight correlated significantly with modified functional reach values. 

 

Keywords: Sitting balance assessment, School children, Modified functional reach, Modified lateral reach, Height, Weight. 

Introduction 
Balance is the condition in which all the forces acting 

on the body are balanced so that the centre of mass (COM) 

is within the limits of stability and the boundaries of base of 

support (BOS).1 The ability to maintain a posture such as 

balancing in a standing or sitting position, is operationally 

defined as static balance.1 The ability to maintain postural 

control during movements, such as reaching for an object or 

walking across objects, is operationally termed as dynamic 

balance1. Balance emerges from a complex interaction of 

sensory systems (afferent-visual, cutaneous, proprioceptive), 

motor systems (effector- muscles, bones, joints), vestibular 

system and central nervous system (CNS).1 These systems 

work in a coordinated way in order to maintain static 

postures and during dynamic tasks.1 These systems 

independently predominate at various rates as age advances. 

Infants and young children (aged 4 months-2 years) are 

dependent on the visual system to maintain balance. At 3-6 

years of age, children begin to use somatosensory 

information appropriately.1 At the age of 6-8 years, a 

transition occurs in organisation of postural behaviour by 

maturation of somatosensory and vestibular system2-4 and 

beyond this age, the effect of vision becomes less dominant 

when compared with other systems.5 Finally, at 7-10 years 

of age, children are able to resolve a sensory conflict and 

appropriately utilize the vestibular system as a reference 

along with other systems.1 

Sitting is a milestone achieved by a typically 

developing child as a part of normal motor development, at 

the age of 5-8 months and reaching activity is also achieved 

at the same age which forms the basis for the dynamic 

balance in sitting position.6 The ability to balance while 

reaching for a variety of objects both within and beyond 

arm’s length is important for daily activities.6 In children, 

sitting balance plays an important role during functional 

activities such as maintaining or attaining sitting posture, 

dressing, transferring, bathing, toileting and eating activities 

and also in activities like playing, hobby, recreation, 

schooling etc.2,7 

In individuals who have neuromuscular dysfunction or 

have abnormal motor development may show variation in 

postural adjustments leading to impaired balance.8-12 To 

assess balance, various age specific scales, tests and 

measures are available that assess sitting balance 

individually or as a part of the test such as paediatric clinical 

test of sensory interaction for balance, Seated postural 

control measure, Level of sitting ability scale, Paediatric 

balance scale, Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor 

proficiency, Timed get up and go test, Sitting Assessment 

for children with neuromotor dysfunction, Gross motor 

function measure, Chailey levels of ability, (mFRT), 

etc.10,13-18 

Modified functional reach test used for balance 

evaluation is less time consuming and requires no 

equipment, easily understood by all age groups and hence is 

widely used as objective measure to assess dynamic sitting 

balance.6,10,19 It is defined as the maximal distance one can 

reach beyond arm length while maintaining a fixed base of 

support in sitting. Modified functional reach test examines 

movements in two directions, forward and lateral in sitting. 

It is having high validity and reliability among both adult 

and paediatric population.10,19,20 The construct validity of 

mFRT is supported in children typically developing and in 

children with cerebral palsy.19 The modified functional 

reach test showed intra class coefficient (ICC), intrarater, 

and inter-rater reliability as 0.84, 0.71, and 0.71 



Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh et al. Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children…. 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 117 

respectively.19 There are several factors affecting balance 

like age, height, weight and other anthropometric 

measurements3,10,21,22 which show vast difference in balance 

scores among children in developing ages. Till date, normal 

reference values for mFRT are not available for paediatric 

population between 6-12 years of age in India. Hence, the 

primary purpose of the study was to establish clinical 

reference values for Indian school going children. 

 

Materials and Methods 
Total 280 children were selected of both genders (140 

boys and 140Girls) by multistage stratified sampling 

method. A cross sectional study was performed on normal 

healthy children of age group 6-12 years selected from one 

urban school and one rural school of Nagpur. Children were 

divided into 7 subgroups depending upon age i.e. 6-12 

years. The study was carried out over a period of 3 months. 

Children having any neuromuscular or musculoskeletal 

disorders6, severe known visual defects,6 history of ear 

infection/pain since last 6 months were excluded from the 

study. 

Anthropometric measurements of height and weight 

were done by using stature meter and weighing machine 

respectively. BMI was calculated and children between the 

range of 13.37 to 22.15 kg/m2 i.e. (10th and 90th percentile 

for age 6-12 years.) were included. Trunk length and leg 

length were measured using measuring tape.6,23 Universal 

half Goniometer was used to measure Hamstring angle24 

and Sit and Reach apparatus was used to assess trunk 

flexibility.6 Children showing no tightness in 90-90 

hamstring tightness test were included. 

A stool with adjustable height was arranged near the 

wall, where child seated independently with back straight 

and feet pelvis width apart, touching the floor completely. A 

yard stick was arranged at the height of the shoulder of the 

child. Forward reach and lateral reach of the children were 

measured by asking the child to bend with his/her arm 

flexed at 90 degrees for forward reach and 90 degrees 

abduction for lateral reach6 (Fig. 1-4). Three successive 

measurements were taken in centimetres. Mean of the three 

finding was calculated for each child. No unexpected 

responses or injuries occurred during testing. 

 

 
Fig. 1: Starting position for modified forward reach test 

 

 
Fig. 2: End position for modified forward reach test 

 

 
Fig. 3: Starting position for modified lateral reach test 

 

 
Fig. 4: End position modified lateral reach test 

 

Data Analysis 

SPSS version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. 

Student’s t-test was used to obtain normal values of 

modified functional reach test. Karl Pearson correlation 

moment product was used to determine correlation between 

age, gender, height, weight, trunk length, leg length, sit and 

reach distance and hamstring angle with mFRT and mLRT. 

Statistics were determined at 95% confidence interval.  

 

Results 
The mean and Standard deviation of anthropometric 

measurements, sit and reach test distance and 90-90 

hamstring tightness angle were explained in Table 1. 

Normal values of mFRT and mLRT ranged from19.53 ± 



Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh et al. Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children…. 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 118 

3.57 cm to 26.48 ± 5.27 cm and 17.68 cm ±2.59 cm to 22.50 

cm±3.75 cm among both genders between the ages of 6-12 

years respectively. (Table 2) 

Correlation of mFRT and mLRT with anthropometric 

measures, trunk flexibility and hamstring angle (Table 3, 4): 

The values of mFRT and mLRT increases with age in 

both genders and showed a highly significant correlation 

with height, leg length, trunk length. The mFRT distances 

showed a significant correlation with weight in both genders 

whereas, mLRT distances were correlated significantly with 

weight in girls, but not in boys. The mFRT distances 

showed a significant correlation with sit and reach test 

distance (trunk flexibility) in boys but not in girls. The 

mLRT distances did not show correlation with trunk 

flexibility in both genders. Both distances did not show 

significant correlation with BMI and hamstring angle in 

both genders. 

For children of age 6-12 years mLR mean distance 

value could be predicted significantly (Table 5) (R2=0.48) 

by mFR mean distance and vice versa in both genders by 

using following formula: 

mLR (cm)=7.28+[0.607×mFR(cm)] 

On evaluation of lateral reach test, it was found that 

there was no significant difference between right and the left 

side reach values (Graph 1). 

 

 

Table 1: Mean and standard deviation of demographic data, sit and reach distance, hamstring angle 

Age Gender Height±SD 

(cm) 

Weight±SD 

(kg) 

BMI± 

SD(kg/m2) 

Leg 

Length±SD 

(cm) 

Trunk 

Length± SD 

(cm) 

Sit and reach 

distance± 

SD(cm) 

Hamstring angle± 

SD(degrees) 

6 G 113.35± 

3.67 

20.25± 

3.66 

15.70± 

2.27 

33.90± 

1.48 

44.65± 

1.53 

8.50± 

3.87 

173.50± 

10.52 

B 114.70± 

5.13 

18.80± 

2.84 

14.15± 

1.38 

34.00± 

1.94 

43.20± 

2.73 

8.35± 

4.42 

172.50± 

8.95 

7 G 117.60± 

4.81 

20.85± 

3.36 

14.80± 

1.90 

35.55± 

2.13 

45.60± 

2.72 

9.15± 

3.20 

174.75± 

9.79 

B 122.10± 

5.23 

22.90± 

5.27 

15.30± 

2.47 

37.00± 

2.31 

47.15± 

1.69 

7.05± 

2.80 

160.75± 

9.49 

8 G 125.85± 

4.74 

23.10± 

2.78 

14.45± 

1.19 

39.55± 

2.41 

47.80± 

2.84 

10.30± 

1.49 

167.25± 

6.58 

B 126.55± 

6.37 

23.30± 

5.14 

14.45± 

2.43 

38.35± 

2.88 

46.10± 

3.09 

10.40± 

1.78 

169.50± 

7.76 

9 G 131.55± 

6.24 

28.55± 

5.83 

16.40± 

2.37 

41.65± 

2.81 

49.15± 

3.81 

13.50± 

3.95 

173± 

11.16 

B 131.05± 

4.72 

27.50± 

7.41 

15.85± 

3.78 

40.65± 

2.18 

49.75± 

3.62 

13.30± 

4.24 

169.75± 

13.52 

10 G 133.10± 

6.46 

29.65± 

6.23 

16.55± 

2.54 

42.70± 

2.69 

50.85± 

3.31 

11.95± 

3.83 

171.75± 

8.47 

B 137.75±8.14 30.75± 

6.23 

16.10± 

2.55 

42.90± 

2.78 

50.85± 

3.04 

10.05± 

3.90 

169.25± 

10.16 

11 G 144.70± 

9.30 

33.80± 

8.19 

15.95± 

2.25 

49.80± 

5.68 

50.10± 

6.96 

12.55± 

4.22 

164.75± 

11.97 

B 141.00±6.03 37.90± 

11.48 

19.00± 

5.70 

48.90± 

4.29 

49.75± 

5.86 

12.95± 

3.45 

168.75± 

12.76 

12 G 150.55± 

7.14 

40.50± 

9.86 

17.70± 

3.04 

47.30± 

2.77 

58.50± 

5.35 

9.50± 

2.41 

166.25± 

9.85 

B 149.30± 

9.29 

39.80± 

9.23 

17.65± 

3.10 

47.50± 

2.96 

57.45± 

4.44 

10.30± 

4.65 

165.00±9.03 

Abbreviations: G, Girls; B, Boys; SD, standard deviation 

 

Table 2: The normal values of modified forward reach and modified lateral reach (both right and left side) among 

both genders between the ages of 6 to 12 years. 

Age, y Gender mFR(cm) mLR (lt)(cm) mLR(rt)(cm) 

6 F 19±4.01 16.80±2.87 17.50±2.98 

M 20.05±3.08 18.55±1.98 18.15±2.27 

7 F 23.05±3.72 20±3.68 20.10±3.65 

M 21.90±5.10 22.45±4.08 23.32±3.19 

8 F 23.35±5.37 20.80±6.37 22.25±3.71 

M 24.20±3.17 22.75±4.36 22.75±3.87 

9 F 22.85±4.18 17.85±3.20 19.10±2.84 

M 21.60±3.53 20.35±6.26 19.40±4.16 

10 F 24.50±5.30 20.85±3.76 21.45±3.81 



Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh et al. Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children…. 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 119 

M 22.60±7.91 22.20±3.57 19.95±4.32 

11 F 26.80±5.84 21.55±3.84 19.85±3.29 

M 26.15±4.76 22.20±3.57 21.80±3.79 

12 F 27.45±7.46 22.75±4.01 21.85±4.39 

M 24.05±6.71 20.40±4.95 20.85±4.71 

Abbreviation: F, female; M, male; mFR, modified forward reach; mLR, modified lateral reach 

 

Table 3: Correlation of modified forward reach test with anthropometric measures, sit and reach distance (trunk 

flexibility), hamstring angle and bilateral Lateral Reach values 

Age Gender Height 

(cm) 

(r) 

Weight 

(Kg) 

(r) 

BMI 

(Kg/m2) 

(r) 

Leg 

length 

(cm) 

(r) 

Trunk 

length 

(cm) 

(r) 

Trunk 

flexibility (cm) 

(r) 

Hamstring 

angle 

(degrees 

(r) 

Modified Left 

Lateral 

reach(cm) 

(r) 

Modified 

Right Lateral 

reach(cm 

(r) 

6 G 0.04 0.28 0.36 0.08 0.24 0.52 0.492 0.17 -0.17* 

B 0.03 -0.01* 0.11 -0.12* -0.12* 0.15 0.4 0.09 0.10 

7 G 0.38 0.14 -0.30* 0.32 0.002 0.23 0.23 0.20 0.35 

B 0.20 0.01 0.08 0.30 0.11 0.18 0.25 0.23 0.36 

8 G 0.41 0.28 -0.02* 0.15 0.13 0.07 -0.10* 0.54 0.38 

B -0.24 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.33 0.004 0.06 0.45 0.53 

9 G 0.13 0.13 0.04 0.17 0.16 0.53 0.12 0.23 0.14 

B 0.20 -0.11* 0.18 0.17 0.12 0.21 -0.05* 0.18 0.33 

10 G -0.04 0.23 0.37 -0.10* -0.06* 0.39 0.67 0.46 0.68 

B -0.37 0.20 0.01 -0.35* -0.02* 0.28 0.7 0.82 0.72 

11 G 0.48 0.23 -0.05* 0.21 0.28 0.02 0.04 0.51 0.43 

B 0.31 0.30 0.21 -0.39* 0.67 0.28 0.05 0.23 0.57 

12 G -0.18 -0.45* -0.58* -0.08* -0.48* -0.19* 0.37 0.49 0.41 

B 0.42 -0.009* -0.28* 0.31 0.12 -0.12* 0.009 0.51 0.66 

Abbreviations: G, Girls; B, Boys; L, Left; R, Right,*, negative correlation 

Abbreviations: G, Girls; B, Boys; L, Left; R, Right,*, negative correlation 

Values represent Karl Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) 

 

Table 4: Correlation of modified lateral reach distances with anthropometric measures, sit and reach distance (trunk 

flexibility) and hamstring angle 

Age Gender Height(cm) 

(r) 

Weight(Kg) 

(r) 

BMI(kg/m2) 

(r) 

Leg length(cm) 

(r) 

Trunk 

length(cm) 

(r) 

Trunk 

flexibility 

(cm)(r) 

Hamstring 

angle 

(degrees) (r) 

L R L R L R L R L R L R L R 

6 G 0.17 -0.17* 0.21 0.14 0.17 0.24 0.20 -0.13* 0.17 -0.23* 0.15 -0.19* 0.53 0.30 

B 0.32 0.28 0.49 0.17 0.40 -0.02* 0.46 0.24 0.07 0.32 0.001 0.33 -0.24* -0.12* 

7 G -0.02* 0.37 -0.13* 0.280 0.34 0.003 -0.02* 0.24 0.07 0.27 -0.04* 0.35 0.40 -0.05* 

B 0.19 0.14 0.15 -0.16* 0.10 -0.33* 0.14 0.01 0.19 -0.01* -0.43* -0.13* -0.457* -0.20* 

8 G 0.52 0.67 0.47 0.65 0.13 0.33 0.52 0.78 0.06 0.12 -0.30* -0.38* -0.30* -0.40* 

B 0.18 -0.37* 0.16 0.05 0.09 0.13 0.10 -0.32* 0.19 -0.20* -0.18* 0.41 -0.18* 0.43 

9 G -0.19* 0.12 -0.11* -0.15* -0.06* -0.30* 0.01 0.03 0.23 0.28 0.05 0.182 -0.04* 0.007 

B -0.45* -0.19* -0.08* -0.28* 0.05 -0.28* -0.21* -0.12* 0.02 -0.05* -0.02* 0.02 0.15 0.14 

10 G 0.13 0.05 0.26 0.35 0.28 0.44 0.12 0.009 0.03 0.04 0.50 0.44 0.15 0.37 

B -0.20* -0.01* -.002* 0.03 0.15 0.02 -0.20* 0.12 0.04 0.15 0.32 0.40 0.42 0.47 

11 G 0.29 0.45 0.19 0.14 0.05 -0.15* -0.27* -0.15* 0.47 0.46 0.48 0.39 -0.14* 0.45 

B 0.05 0.25 0.15 0.20 0.18 0.15 0.01 -0.27* 0.22 0.43 -0.27* 0.24 -0.29* -0.07* 

12 G -0.25* -0.36* -0.33* -0.26* -0.38* -0.20* -0.12* -0.25* -0.25* -0.33* 0.03 -0.21* 0.59 0.68 

B 0.44 0.34 0.08 0.09 -0.16* -0.10* 0.22 0.28 0.40 0.12 0.12 -0.23* -0.22* 0.17 

Abbreviations: G, Girls; B, Boys; L, Left; R, Right, *, negative correlation 

Values represent Karl Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (r) 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh et al. Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children…. 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 120 

Table 5: Regression Values and coefficients of mLRT of both sides with mFRT in both genders 

 Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized 

Coefficients 

t value p value 

B Std. Error Beta 

 

(Constant) 7.280 1.594  4.567 0.000 

Modified Left Lateral reach(cm) 0.401 0.080 0.322 5.030 0.000 

Modified Right Lateral reach(cm) 0.383 0.090 0.272 4.250 0.000 

a. Dependent Variable: Modified Forward Reach(cm) 

 p value < 0.05 considered as statistically significant 

 

Graph 1: Correlation of mLRT on both sides in both genders 

 
Discussion 

The anthropometric measurements (height, weight, 

BMI) (Table 1) of the children included in the present study 

were in agreement with the Indian data for the respective 

age group.17,26,27 The values for modified forward reach and 

modified lateral reach in age group 6-12 years among both 

genders have not been established hence this study reported 

the reference values (Table 2). 

The current study found that the modified functional 

reach test values were affected by the factors such as height 

and weight in both genders. This finding is consistent with 

findings of Donahoe and associates (1996)20 where it was 

stated that as age advances, height and weight increases and 

also the functional reach. Another study by Habib and 

associates (1998) showed that height was the most 

significant factor for the FR values in Pakistani children 

aged 5-7 years. AA Deshmukh and associates 201117 also 

found that FR values were significantly affected by height in 

Indian girls aged 6-12 years. Rosemary and associates 

(2003)23 found that weight was the only significant factor 

affecting the FR values in children aged 3-5 years. This 

finding contradicts the studies by Thompson M (2007) and 

P. Singh (2013) where they did not find any significant 

correlation between anthropometric measures and modified 

functional reach test values in American and Indian adults 

(20-97 years) respectively. 

In the present study, modified functional reach test 

values increases in both genders in parallel with leg length 

as well as trunk length. This is in accordance with the 

previous study by P. Singh and associates (2013)6 where 

they found that mFRT and mLRT values were significantly 

correlated with trunk length in young Indian adults (20-39 

years). Study performed on children by Tacar and 

colleagues(1999)28 found that upper and lower extremity 

length increases in parallel to height which may explain the  

 

results of present study that, as the leg length increases the 

modified functional reach test values increases well. 

AA Deshmukh and associates (2011)17 also found 

similar results where high correlations of lengths of upper 

and lower extremities with FRT results were observed only 

in girls. In present study it is also observed that trunk 

flexibility had effect on mFRT values in boys. This finding 

is supported by Margaret S et al (2000)29 who found that 

spinal flexibility is a contributor to functional reach values 

performed in standing. Balance is dependent on tissue 

flexibility as well as strength and there is a gender 

difference among children with respect to flexibility and 

strength. Physiologically boys are stronger than girls and at 

early age both boys and girls are equally flexible as stated in 

study by Stephen Haley and associates (1986)30 that anterior 

spinal flexion measurements for both genders demonstrated 

no significant trend between ages of 5 and 9years. Hence in 

present study better trunk flexibility and strength among 

children might have contributed significantly for mFRT 

values. In this study hamstring length did not contribute to 

mFRT and mLRT values. This can be explained 

biomechanically as, in sitting position, two joint hamstring 

muscle is in a shortened position at knee hence reaching 

forward may not require complete excursion of hamstring 

muscles. 

BMI also did not affect both reach values. The 

participants were of growing age and as age increased 

height and weight also showed an increment in their values 

and hence their ratio i.e. BMI remained constant. Moreover, 

none of the participants in the study were obese so excess 

adipose tissue did not contribute for limitation of 

movement.20 For mLRT, height, weight, leg length and 

trunk length were important factors in girls whereas in boys 

the distances were not affected by the anthropometric 



Abhijeet Arun Deshmukh et al. Normal values of modified functional reach test in Indian school going children…. 

Panacea Journal of Medical Sciences, September-December, 2018;8(3):116-122 121 

measurements. This result is in agreement with the study by 

AA Deshmukh and associates (2011)17 where for lateral 

reach values, height was an important factor among girls. 

The result of previous study6 stated that trunk length was 

significantly correlated with lateral reach values in young 

Indian adults (20-39 years). 

In present study, it was observed that mFRT values are 

more than mLRT values in both genders. This result is 

consistent with the study by AA Deshmukh (2011)17 where 

similar results were found for functional reach tests. The 

reason for this could be explained as in sitting there is a 

larger BOS and shorter lever arm as compared to standing 

which allows a greater stability. Abroader BOS while 

reaching forward as compared to a smaller BOS while 

reaching lateral may be the reason for variation in reach 

values. While reaching forward the participants could get a 

visual feedback and hence may have performed better. 

While reaching laterally as visual feedback had been 

blocked, the participants depended on somatosensory 

system and vestibular system which is not fully developed 

in this age.1 

Results showed that values of FR were more than mFR 

whereas LR values were lesser than mLR when compared 

with the study done by AA Deshmukh. (2011).17 During 

reaching forward in standing, various postural strategies are 

used such as hip, ankle and trunk, whereas in sitting only 

trunk strategy is used. In lateral reach, the BOS is broader in 

sitting hence children were able to reach farther as 

compared to the standing7. It was also found that mFRT and 

mLRT showed a highly significant correlation with each 

other i.e. mLRT values can be predicted by mFRT values 

and vice versa. Comparative group statistics of left and right 

lateral reach do not show any significant difference. Hence 

in the present study, only right side lateral reach distance is 

considered for statistical analysis. Thus from the present 

study it can be concluded that height and weight are the 

important factors for mFRT and mLRT values as, 

parameters like weight, height, leg length, trunk length 

showed direct correlations with growth. 

The normal values obtained in this study can be used as 

baseline data for assessment of balance impairments among 

children aged 6-12years in India, in conditions like Cerebral 

palsy, Down’s syndrome, Muscular dystrophies, Peripheral 

neuropathies, Spinal structural defects, etc.8-13 In future 

research, correlation of trunk strength and modified 

functional reach test can be evaluated. In addition to 

examining people with sitting balance impairments, further 

examination of the psychometric properties of the reaching 

forward and lateral in sitting position, need to be explored in 

larger sample size. 

 

Conclusion 
From the present study it can be concluded that, the 

range of normal values of mFRT are 19.53 ± 3.57 cm to 

26.48 ± 5.27 cm and that of mLRT reach are 17.68 cm 

±2.59 cm to 22.50 cm ±3.75 cm respectively in Indian 

school going children of age 6-12 years. Among all the 

anthropometric measures, height and weight contributes 

significantly to both mFRT and mLRT values. 

 

Conflict of Interest: None. 

 

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Katz%20K%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=1552027
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Rosenthal%20A%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=1552027
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Yosipovitch%20Z%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=1552027
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1552027