ACE Personal Trainer Practice Exam

What does it indicate when a client's lower leg touches the surface during the Thomas Test?

1. The individual has tight hip flexors

2. The individual has a strong core

3. The individual has good balance

4. The individual has flexible hamstrings

The correct answer is: The individual has tight hip flexors

When a client's lower leg touches the surface during the Thomas Test, it indicates that the individual has tight hip flexors. The Thomas Test is designed to assess flexibility in the hip flexors and quadriceps. If the lower leg falls to the surface while the time is assessed, it typically shows that the hip flexors are not able to fully extend, which can result from tightness in those muscles. This phenomenon occurs because tight hip flexors restrict the movement of the hip joint, causing the knee to extend and the lower leg to touch the table. In contrast, a strong core, good balance, or flexible hamstrings would not necessarily impact the outcome of the Thomas Test in the same way. A strong core might support overall stability during the test, but it would not directly influence the tightness of the hip flexors. Good balance generally relates to the ability to maintain a stable position but does not correlate with tightness in hip flexors. Finally, flexible hamstrings would allow for better movement in the hip joint but are not the primary focus of the Thomas Test, which evaluates hip flexor tightness specifically.