The sitting active and prone passive lag test: an inter-rater reliability study.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Knee extension lag is a common impairment affecting patient mobility and recovery.
• Accurate identification of knee extension lag is crucial for effective treatment planning.
• Existing methods for assessing knee extension lag may lack sufficient inter-rater reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the inter-rater reliability of the sitting active and prone passive lag test (SAPLT).
• To determine the reliability of SAPLT in identifying active and passive knee extension lags.
• To assess the clinical utility of SAPLT in patients with knee pain.

Main Methods:

• 56 patients with knee pain were independently examined by two physical therapists.
• The sitting active lag test assessed the ability to actively extend the knee.
• The prone passive lag test evaluated passive knee extension range of motion.

Main Results:

• The sitting active lag test showed good inter-rater reliability (Kappa = 0.792).
• The prone passive lag test also demonstrated good inter-rater reliability (Kappa = 0.636).
• Both components of the SAPLT provided reliable assessments of knee extension lag.

Conclusions:

• The SAPLT is a simple and effective tool for identifying knee extension lag.
• The test reliably distinguishes between active and passive knee extension limitations.
• SAPLT findings can inform appropriate management strategies for knee dysfunction.