Bent-Arm Hang
Page updated: Evidence reviewed: What this means
The Bent-Arm Hang, also called the flexed-arm hang, is the Eurofit measure of functional arm and shoulder muscular endurance. The participant uses an overhand grip and holds the body with the chin above the bar. Data are from Tomkinson et al. (2018), a pooled analysis of 189,673 test results from children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 in 23 European countries.
How to Perform This Test (Protocol)
- Equipment
-
- Horizontal bar, 2.5 cm in diameter, set high enough for the participant to hang freely
- Stopwatch
- Mat beneath the bar
- Protocol Steps
-
- The participant takes a shoulder-width forward, or overhand, grip on the bar.
- The examiner lifts the participant by the thighs until the chin is above the bar, without allowing the chin to rest on it.
- Start timing when the examiner releases support and the participant is hanging freely.
- Stop timing when the participant's eyes drop below the bar.
- Record the time to the nearest tenth of a second.
- Scoring
Time in seconds. Higher times indicate greater upper-body muscular endurance.
- Notes
Keep the body still and prevent swinging. The stopping rule is eyes below bar level, not chin below bar level.
Data source: Tomkinson et al. 2018 (Eurofit) About this study
Reference population: Apparently healthy children and adolescents aged 9-17 from 30 European countries (2,779,165 test results across all included tests)
Bent-Arm Hang Norms Chart by Age and Sex (s)
| Age | Sex | Percentile | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 95th | ||
| 9 | Male | 1.48 | 3.89 | 7.48 | 14.56 | 35.62 |
| Female | 0.98 | 2.66 | 5.14 | 9.91 | 23.40 | |
| 10 | Male | 1.56 | 4.12 | 7.92 | 15.37 | 37.23 |
| Female | 0.97 | 2.66 | 5.15 | 9.96 | 23.60 | |
| 11 | Male | 1.63 | 4.33 | 8.32 | 16.09 | 38.62 |
| Female | 0.96 | 2.66 | 5.16 | 10.01 | 23.79 | |
| 12 | Male | 1.71 | 4.58 | 8.79 | 16.92 | 40.19 |
| Female | 0.96 | 2.66 | 5.17 | 10.02 | 23.86 | |
| 13 | Male | 1.90 | 5.13 | 9.81 | 18.67 | 43.30 |
| Female | 0.96 | 2.66 | 5.18 | 10.07 | 24.04 | |
| 14 | Male | 2.50 | 6.75 | 12.70 | 23.44 | 51.45 |
| Female | 0.94 | 2.66 | 5.23 | 10.28 | 24.86 | |
| 15 | Male | 3.73 | 9.66 | 17.43 | 30.45 | 61.48 |
| Female | 0.92 | 2.67 | 5.35 | 10.70 | 26.41 | |
| 16 | Male | 5.19 | 12.67 | 21.75 | 35.86 | 66.71 |
| Female | 0.91 | 2.74 | 5.63 | 11.51 | 29.19 | |
| 17 | Male | 6.48 | 14.91 | 24.46 | 38.42 | 66.92 |
| Female | 0.93 | 2.93 | 6.16 | 12.95 | 33.92 | |
What to expect by age group
| Age | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 3.89 to 14.56 | 2.66 to 9.91 |
| 10 | 4.12 to 15.37 | 2.66 to 9.96 |
| 11 | 4.33 to 16.09 | 2.66 to 10.01 |
| 12 | 4.58 to 16.92 | 2.66 to 10.02 |
| 13 | 5.13 to 18.67 | 2.66 to 10.07 |
| 14 | 6.75 to 23.44 | 2.66 to 10.28 |
| 15 | 9.66 to 30.45 | 2.67 to 10.70 |
| 16 | 12.67 to 35.86 | 2.74 to 11.51 |
| 17 | 14.91 to 38.42 | 2.93 to 12.95 |
Detailed Breakdowns
Select an age group and sex below for detailed percentile charts, tables, and ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the distribution so spread out for boys?
For 17-year-old boys, P25 is 14.91 seconds and P75 is 38.42 seconds, a 23.51-second interquartile range. The source does not explain individual differences.
Why do girls' scores barely change from age 9 to 14?
Girls' median times range from 5.14 to 5.23 seconds between ages 9 and 14, then reach 6.16 seconds at age 17. The source tables report this pattern but do not establish a mechanism for it.
Is P25 interpolated?
Yes. Tomkinson et al. report P20, P30, P70, and P80 but not P25 or P75. This page uses the decimal average of P20 and P30 for P25 and of P70 and P80 for P75, rounded half up to two decimal places.
How does the bent-arm hang differ from pull-ups?
The bent-arm hang is a static hold: the participant starts with the chin above the bar and holds that position for as long as possible. Pull-ups are a dynamic exercise using repeated full-range reps. The hang measures isometric upper-body endurance, so its scores are not directly comparable with pull-up counts.
Are there adult norms for the bent-arm hang?
The cited tables cover ages 9-17 only. Do not apply these percentiles to adults or to a flexed-arm hang that uses a different grip or stopping rule.
Related Metrics
Eurofit Battery
This metric is part of the Eurofit, a standardised 9-test battery for children and adolescents aged 6-18.