Thomas Test

Body WeightIntermediate

The Thomas Test assesses hip flexor tightness and overall hip mobility.

  1. Lie on your back at the edge of a table or bench.
  2. Pull one knee towards your chest while keeping the other leg extended.
  3. Observe the position of the extended leg; it should remain flat on the table.
  4. Note any elevation of the extended leg, indicating tightness in the hip flexors.

How to perform the Thomas Test

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Thomas Test using your body weight.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your primary working muscles.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your working muscles rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Thomas Test

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