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Relationship between active knee extension and active straight leg raise test measurements
1Physical Therapy Department, School of Allied Health & Natural Sciences, Quinnipiac College, Hamden, CT 06518.
Summary
The active knee extension (AKE) and active straight leg raise (ASLR) tests show a significant relationship, indicating they both measure hamstring musculotendinous length. AKE may serve as a valid alternative to ASLR for assessing hamstring flexibility.
Area of Science:
- Kinesiology
- Biomechanics
- Musculoskeletal assessment
Background:
- Assessing hamstring musculotendinous length is crucial in clinical practice.
- The active knee extension (AKE) and active straight leg raise (ASLR) tests are commonly used methods.
- Establishing convergent validity is essential before recommending alternative clinical tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the relationship between the active knee extension (AKE) and active straight leg raise (ASLR) tests.
- To assess the convergent validity of AKE and ASLR as indicators of hamstring musculotendinous length.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-three healthy subjects participated in the study.
- Measurements were taken using a 35-mm camera to record kinematic data during AKE and ASLR tests.
- Angles of knee extension (AKE) and straight leg raise to the horizontal (ASLR) were measured.
Main Results:
- High intraclass correlation coefficients were found for both AKE (.861) and ASLR (.953).
- A significant negative correlation (r = -.718, p < .001) was observed between AKE and ASLR measurements.
- The results indicate that both tests measure the same underlying phenomenon, likely hamstring musculotendinous length.
Conclusions:
- The significant correlation supports the convergent validity of the AKE and ASLR tests.
- The active knee extension (AKE) test is a potentially useful and valid alternative to the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test for assessing hamstring muscle length.