Bunkie Test

Although the assessment and treatment of myofascial and kinetic chain dysfunction has been used for numerous years, its presence in therapy clinics and performance centres have increased over the last decade times.  Clinicians and strength coaches are well adept at developing the functional kinetic chain, however, very few understand importance of the fascial system. In order to adequately assess imbalance and dysfunction, a battery of tests may be performed.

An article by de Witt and Venter was published recently in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies and describes the “Bunkie” test for assessing functional strength. While “functional strength” encompases MUCH more than the myofascial system, let’s look at this testing procedure for assessing proposed fascial lines.

The Bunkie test has generally been used as the main assessment tool in the Lyno Method and is derived from the Afrikaans word ‘bankie’ for little bench. This testing procedure is comprised of 5 different tests for specific fascial lines.

• Anterior power line
• Medial stabilizing line
• Lateral stabilizing line
• Posterior stabilizing line
• Posterior power line

The bench height should correspond with the length of the humerus (~ 25 -30cm)

​Test position should be held for 20 - 40s (40s is preferred for endurance athletes)

While this testing procedure still warrants validation, it may be useful in challenging cases to reveal areas of “locked-long” fascia along the specific line examined.  A positive test for “locked-long” fascia is indicated by immediate pain upon testing, bodily rotation, and or inability to hold the correct position.

The assessment of “locked-short” fascia must also be performed but is not directly related to the “Bunkie” testing procedure. I will discuss the assessment of such fascia as well as treatment of “locked-long” fascia (weak) lines in a future post. 
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