Abstract:
The purposes of this research were as follows : 1) to study proper testing methods of flexibility for the Thai elderly. Delphi Futures Research technique was used to select the most appropriate testing protocol for the elderly by eighteen experts working in the fields of Medical, Nurse, Physical Therapist, Public Health, Sport Sciences and Physical Education. 2) The results from the experts were piloted with 408 elderly to check for its reliability using test-retest method, and objectivity where two testers tested the same subjects. The pilot studies were taken places with the subjects in Amnat Charoen, Saraburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Ranong and Bangkok provinces. 3) An electronic flexibility testing equipment for elderly which was suitable for the test was created. Face validity of the electronic flexibility testing equipment for elderly was checked by three experts. 4) Sixty elderly (30 male, 30 female) from Kut Khaopun district, Ubon Ratchathani provinces were recruited in order to find the equipments reliability and objectivity. A test-retest method was used to find the reliability, and the time line for the test-retest was within 1 weeks. The objectivity of the equipment was assessed by using two different administrators. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. The result showed as follows: 1. The result from the experts showed six tests are appropriate to be a flexibility test for Thai elderly. The six tests were 1) sit and reach test, 2) back scratch test, 3) chair sit and reach test 4) sit and reach wall test, 5) trunk rotation, and 6) hamstring and hip flexor. The first three tests had an IOC value of 0.88, while the last three tests had an IOC value of 0.76. 2. The first three flexibility tests were later used with 408 elderly to check for then reliability and objectivity. The results showed that the reliability index of the sit and reach test, back scratch test and chair sit and reach test were 0.83, 0.76 and 0.88, respectively, while the objectivity index of the three tests were 0.83, 0.80 and 0.87, respectively. 3. The results showed that the reliability index and objectivity index of the electronic flexibility testing equipment for elderly were 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. It is shown in the research that the developed equipment is appropriate to be a testing equipment for testing flexibility of Thai elderly.