PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of successive repetitions of a measure of hamstring flexibility-the passive unilateral straight leg raise (SLR)-on the reliability of this measure. METHOD: Ten repetitions of the SLR were performed on nine healthy adults. Measures were quantified using an electromagnetic tracking system and standardized using a handheld dynamometer by stopping the SLR at a set end-point force. The 10 repetitions were analyzed as two blocks of five, and intra-class correlation coefficients-models (2,1) and (3,k)-were calculated for each block of data. RESULTS: ICC values for both models were comparable between the two blocks of data. CONCLUSION: Previous loading cycles, to a set end-point force, are unlikely to improve the reliability of muscle flexibility assessment in a clinical setting.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of successive repetitions of a measure of hamstring flexibility-the passive unilateral straight leg raise (SLR)-on the reliability of this measure. METHOD: Ten repetitions of the SLR were performed on nine healthy adults. Measures were quantified using an electromagnetic tracking system and standardized using a handheld dynamometer by stopping the SLR at a set end-point force. The 10 repetitions were analyzed as two blocks of five, and intra-class correlation coefficients-models (2,1) and (3,k)-were calculated for each block of data. RESULTS: ICC values for both models were comparable between the two blocks of data. CONCLUSION: Previous loading cycles, to a set end-point force, are unlikely to improve the reliability of muscle flexibility assessment in a clinical setting.
Keywords:
elasticity; muscle stretching exercises; range of motion, articular; reproducibility of results