Knee laxity in carpet and floor layers and painters.

The knees of 154 carpet and floor layers and 131 painters were examined clinically and the anteroposterior displacement of the knees was measured with a computer-based arthrometer. The drawer test, the pivot shift and the thigh muscle stretching tests showed greater mobility among carpet and floor layers than among painters. The arthrometric examination showed equal anteroposterior tibiofemoral displacements in the two groups. Two percent of the subjects had a right knee/left knee difference indicating a cruciate ligament insufficiency. Tightness in the rectus femoris stretching test, and among carpet and floor layers also radiographic tibiofemoral osteophytosis predicted small arthrometric changes.