BACKGROUND: Due to lack of normal reference values of forward and lateral reach tests for Saudi young adults, this study aimed to formulate normative values of the forward reach test and lateral reach test and to assess the correlation between the demographic variables and the reach test results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We randomly assigned 240 normal young Saudi adults ages 20–23 years to assess reach test scores in forward and lateral directions. All the subjects had been measured for distance reached in forward and lateral direction on graph paper fixed to a white board.

RESULTS: The mean and standard deviation of forward and lateral reach distances were 25±8.14 cm and 19.78±5.70 cm, respectively. Significant differences were found between males and females for forward reach and lateral reach scores (p<0.001). Forward reach and lateral reach values showed a moderate correlation with height, lower limb length, and upper limb length. The intra-rater reliability assessed by intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.91 and 0.92 for the forward and lateral reach test scores, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study established reference values of forward and lateral reach scores for Saudi young adults ages 20–23 years. Height, upper limb length, and lower limb length were moderately correlated with the reach distances in forward and lateral directions. Males performed longer reach distances than females.

Keywords: Nervous System Diseases, postural balance, young adult, Anthropometry, Arm, Biomechanical Phenomena, Body Weights and Measures, Exercise Test, Psychometrics, Reference Values, Reproducibility of Results, Saudi Arabia