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I saw a physical therapist for a muscle injury. The therapist used a plastic device to measure my flexibility. How good is something this simple?

Amazingly good! Physical therapists use a tool called a goniometer to measure joint motion and muscle length. Studies to answer your question have been done. These compared goniometer measurements by therapists with X-rays showed these to be correct, reliable, and valid.

Therapists worldwide are trained to measure each motion and muscle the same way. The goniometer is lined up with various bony landmarks on the body. The axis of this tool is placed at the same point for each patient.

For a low-tech solution, goniometric measurements offer good information.

Reference: 

Erik Witvrouw, PT, PhD, et al. Muscle Flexibility as a Risk Factor For Developing Muscle Injuries in Male Professional Soccer Players. In The American Journal of Sports Medicine. January/February 2003. Vol. 31. No. 1. Pp. 41-46.


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