Physical Therapy Korea (한국전문물리치료학회지)

Korean Research Society of Physical Therapy (한국전문물리치료학회)
권호 표지

Reliability of Measured Popliteal Angle by Traditional and Stabilized Active-Knee-Extension Test

  • Kim, Min-Hee (Dept. of Rehabilitation Therapy, The Gradute School, Yonsei University) ;
  • Kim, Yong-Wook (Dept. of Physical Therapy, College of Alternative Medicine, Jeonju University) ;
  • Jung, Doh-Heon (Dept. of Rehabilitation Therapy, The Gradute School, Yonsei University) ;
  • Yi, Chung-Hwi (Dept. of Physical Therapy, College of Health Seience, Yonsei University, Institute of Health Science, Yonsei University)
  • Received : 2009.09.01
  • Accepted : 2009.10.15
  • Published : 2009.11.19
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The active-knee-extension (AKE) test has been used to measure hamstring muscle length. The traditional AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip fixed by straps, while the stabilized AKE test measures the popliteal angle to the point of resistance with a 90-degree flexion of the hip stabilized using a pressure biofeedback unit providing lumbopelvic stabilization. The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability of the traditional AKE test and stabilized AKE test. Twenty healthy adults participated in the study. The popliteal angles were measured with a digital inclinometer during each test. To assess the test-retest reliability between the 2 test sessions, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. The intrasubject coefficient of variation ($CV_{intra}$) was also calculated. To compare the traditional and stabilized AKE tests for changes in pressure, paired t-tests were applied. The results of this study were as follows: 1) ICCs(3,1) value for test-retest reliability was .96 in the traditional AKE test, and was .98 in the stabilized AKE test. 2) The maximal $CV_{intra}$ was 33.7% in the traditional AKE test and 15.7% in the stabilized AKE test. 3) Differences of $6.1{\pm}2.1$ mmHg in pressure were measured in the traditional AKE test, and differences of $1.2{\pm}1.0$ mmHg in pressure were measured in the stabilized AKE test. The results show the traditional and stabilized AKE test to be highly reliable, with test-retest reliability. However, the stabilized AKE test represented less variation and more stabilization than the traditional AKE test. Further study is needed to measure the inter-rater reliability of the stabilized AKE test for generalization and clinical application.

Keywords

References

  1. Bennell K, Tully E. Harvey N. Does the toe-touch test predict hamstring injury in australian rules footballers- Aust J Physiother, 1999;45(2):103-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0004-9514(14)60342-1
  2. Bohannon RW. Cinematographic analysis of the passive straight-leg-raising test for hamstring muscle length. Phys Ther. 1982;62(9):1269-1274. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/62.9.1269
  3. Bohannon RW, Gajdosik RL, LeVeau BF. Relationship of pelvic and thigh motions during unilateral and bilateral hip flexion. Phys Ther. 1985;65(10):1501-1504. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/65.10.1501
  4. Buurke JH. Hermens HJ, Roetenberg D, et al. Influence of hamstring lengthening on muscle activation timing. Gait Posture. 2004;20(1):48-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0966-6362(03)00092-4
  5. Cameron DM, Bohannon RW, Owen SV. Influence of hip position on measurements of the straight leg raise test. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1994; 19(3):168-172. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1994.19.3.168
  6. Cynn HS. Oh JS. Kwon OY, et al. Effects of lumbar stabilization using a pressure biofeedback unit on muscle activity and lateral pelvic tilt during hip abduction in sidelying, Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;87(11):1454-1458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2006.08.327
  7. Ekstrand J. Wiktorsson M. Oberg B, et al. Lower extremity goniometric measurements: A study to determine their reliability. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1982;63(4):171-175.
  8. Gajdosik R, Lusin G. Hamstring muscle tightness. Reliability of an active-knee-extension test. Phys Ther. 1983;63(7):1085-1090. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/63.7.1085
  9. James WH. Do celebrities' cosmetic breast augmentations jeopardise their fans' willingness to breast feed- Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2008;22(2):116. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2008.00924.x
  10. Kane Y. Bernasconi J. Analysis of a modified active knee extension test. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1992;15(3):141-146. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1992.15.3.141
  11. Katz K Rosenthal A, Yosipovitch Z. Normal ranges of popliteal angle in children. J Pediatr Orthop. 1992;12(2):229-231. https://doi.org/10.1097/01241398-199203000-00014
  12. Kendall F. McCreary E, Provance P, et al. Muscle Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia. 2005.
  13. Kippers V, Parker AW. Toe-touch test. A measure of its validity. Phys Ther. 1987;67(11):1680-1684. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/67.11.1680
  14. Kuo L. Chung W, Bates E, et al. The hamstring index. J Pediatr Orthop, 1997:17(l):78-88. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004694-199701000-00018
  15. Li Y, McClure PW, Pratt N. The effect of hamstring muscle stretching on standing posture and on lumbar and hip motions during forward bending. Phys Ther. 1996;76(8):836-845; discussion 845-839. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/76.8.836
  16. Rakos DM, Shaw KA, Fedor RL, et al. Interrater reliability of the active-knee-extension test for hamstring length in school-aged children. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2001;13(1):37-41. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001577-200104000-00006
  17. Richardson CA, Jull GA. Muscle control-pain control. What exercises would you prescribe- Man Ther. 1995;1(1):2-10. https://doi.org/10.1054/math.1995.0243
  18. Smeets RJ. Do lumbar stabilising exercises reduce pain and disability in patients with recurrent low back pain- Aust J Physiother. 2009;55(2):138. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0004-9514(09)70046-7
  19. Tesh KM, Dunn JS, Evans JH. The abdominal muscles and vertebral stability. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1987;12(5):501-508. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-198706000-00014
  20. von Garnier K, Koveker K, Rackwitz B, et al. Reliability of a test measuring transversus abdominis muscle recruitment with a pressure biofeedback unit. Physiotherapy. 2009;95(1):8-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2008.10.003
  21. White LC, Dolphin P, Dixon J. Hamstring length in patellofemoral pain syndrome. Physiotherapy. 2009;95(1):24-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2008.05.009