Back Scratch Test: Males, Age 85-89
The back scratch test (also known as the shoulder stretch test or Apley scratch test) measures upper-body (shoulder) flexibility, the distance between the middle fingers when one hand reaches over the shoulder and the other behind the back. A positive score means the fingers overlap; a negative score means they do not meet. It is part of the Senior Fitness Test battery (Rikli & Jones 1999, n=7,183 US community-dwelling adults aged 60-94). Percentile curves (P5-P95) are from the Senior Fitness Test Manual, 2nd edition (2013), modelled from the same sample. Women consistently score higher than men at all ages due to greater shoulder flexibility.
Data source: Rikli & Jones (SFT) About this study
Percentile Distribution (inches)
| Percentile | Value (inches) | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 5th | -14.1 | Poor |
| 25th | -9.4 | Below average |
| 50th | -6.2 | Average |
| 75th | -3 | Above average |
| 95th | 1.7 | Excellent |
What these numbers mean for males aged 85-89
A score around -6.2 inches is typical (50th percentile) for males in this age group. Scores above about -3 inches fall near the 75th percentile or higher, indicating above-average performance. Scores below about -9.4 inches fall near the 25th percentile, about 75% of the reference population scored higher.
Percentiles show how common a value is, not whether it is healthy.
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Related Metrics
Senior Fitness Test Battery
This metric is part of the Senior Fitness Test, a validated 7-test battery for adults aged 60-94.