Reliability of a Custom Device Used to Measure Isometric Knee Flexor and Extensor Strength in Standing Position

Overview

Journal Life (Basel)

Specialty Biology

Date 2023 Feb 25

PMID 36836815

Authors

Tommaso Minuti

Paolo Cigni

Michele Costagli

Alessandro Cucini

Erika Cione

Samuele Melotto

Stefano Rapetti

Leonardo Ricotti

Roberto Cannataro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Assessing lower limb strength in the field is problematic, as the "gold standard assessment" with isokinetic strength is cumbersome, and the device is costly and not transportable and keeps the angle of the hip at around 90°. : We evaluated isometric muscle strength in a standing position with the help of an exoskeleton that holds the subject and makes the test easily repeatable. The optimal device angles for hip and knee were, respectively, 20° and 80° for flexor tests and 30° and 40° for extensor tests. Test-retest reliability was very high for the right knee extensor (ICC 0.96-0.98), left knee extensor (ICC 0.96-0.97), right knee flexor (ICC 0.91-0.96), and left knee flexor (ICC 0.96-0.97). Furthermore, the typical error in percent (T.E.%) ranged from 2.50 to 5.50%, and the change in the mean in percent ranged from 0.84 to 7.72%, making it possible to determine even a slight variation in force. this new method could represent a valid alternative for assessing strength, due to the high reliability and the favorable joint position, particularly in football.

Citing Articles

Application of a Custom Device to Measure Isometric Knee Strength: Possible Injury Correlation in Professional Soccer (Football) Players.

Cigni P, Minuti T, Mannini A, Cucini A, Costagli M, Rapetti S J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2023; 8(4).

PMID: 37873900 PMC: 10594464. DOI: 10.3390/jfmk8040141.

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