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Reliability of the Superimposed-Burst Technique in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain: A Technical Report
Grant E Norte1, Jamie L Frye2, Joseph M Hart1
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville;
Context:
The superimposed-burst (SIB) technique is commonly used to quantify central activation failure after knee-joint injury, but its reliability has not been established in pathologic cohorts.
Objective:
To assess within-session and between-sessions reliability of the SIB technique in patients with patellofemoral pain.
Design:
Descriptive laboratory study.
Setting:
University laboratory.
Patients Or Other Participants:
A total of 10 patients with self-reported patellofemoral pain (1 man, 9 women; age = 24.1 ± 3.8 years, height = 167.8 ± 15.2 cm, mass = 71.6 ± 17.5 kg) and 10 healthy control participants (3 men, 7 women; age = 27.4 ± 5.0 years, height = 173.5 ± 9.9 cm, mass = 78.2 ± 16.5 kg) volunteered.
Intervention(S):
Participants were assessed at 6 intervals spanning 21 days. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs [3,3]) were used to assess reliability.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Quadriceps central activation ratio, knee-extension maximal voluntary isometric contraction force, and SIB force.
Results:
The quadriceps central activation ratio was highly reliable within session (ICC [3,3] = 0.97) and between sessions through day 21 (ICC [3,3] = 0.90-0.95). Acceptable reliability of knee extension (ICC [3,3] = 0.75-0.91) and SIB force (ICC [3,3] = 0.77-0.89) was observed through day 21.
Conclusions:
The SIB technique was reliable for clinical research up to 21 days in patients with patellofemoral pain.