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Comparison of four clinical tests for assessing hamstring muscle length
R L Gajdosik1, M A Rieck, D K Sullivan
1Physical Therapy Department, School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula 59812-1076.
The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
|November 1, 1993
Summary
This study found that different procedures for the passive straight leg raise (SLR) test yield similar hamstring muscle length measurements. However, active knee extension (AKE) and passive knee extension (PKE) tests show significant differences, potentially indicating initial versus maximal hamstring length.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Accurate measurement of hamstring muscle length is crucial for clinical assessment and injury prevention.
- Existing indirect clinical tests for hamstring length have varying procedures, with unclear impacts on results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the results of four common indirect clinical tests for hamstring muscle length.
- To clarify the influence of specific testing procedures on hamstring length measurements.
Main Methods:
- Thirty men underwent four tests: passive straight leg raise with stabilization (SLR-SS), passive straight leg raise with lumbar support (SLR-LBF), active knee extension (AKE), and passive knee extension (PKE).
- Dependent t-tests and Pearson correlations were used to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was found between SLR-SS and SLR-LBF measurements.
- Significant differences were observed between AKE and PKE measurements (p < 0.001).
- All four tests showed significant relationships with each other (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The testing procedures for SLR-SS and SLR-LBF appear to have minimal influence on hamstring length results.
- AKE and PKE tests may reflect different aspects of hamstring muscle length, potentially "initial" and "maximal" lengths, respectively.