Antonio Cejudo

Test-retest reliability of seven common clinical tests for assessing lower extremity muscle flexibility in futsal and handball players

OBJECTIVE To determine the inter-session reliability of seven lower limb muscle flexibility measures obtained from the passive hip extension test (PHE), passive hip flexion test (PHF), passive hip abduction test (PHA), passive straight leg raise test (PSLR), modified Thomas test (MTh), the ankle dorsi-flexion with knee extended (ADFKE) and flexed (ADFKF) tests. DESIGN Repeated measures design. SETTING Controlled laboratory environment. PARTICIPANTS 60 futsal and 30 handball players. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reliability was examined through the change in the mean (ChM), standard error of measurement expressed in absolute values (SEM) and as a percentage of the mean score (%SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC95), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,k). RESULTS The findings showed negligible ChM values for all the flexibility measures analysed (<1°). Furthermore, the SEM and MDC95 for each flexibility measure ranged from 1.3° to 2.5° and from 3.8° to 6.9°, respectively, with %SEM scores lower than 10% and ICC scores higher than 0.88. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians can be 95% confident that an observed change between 2 measures larger than 3.7°, 6.2°, 5.5°, 6.1°, 6.9°, 4.7°, and 5.0° for the flexibility measures obtained from the PHE, PHF, PHA, PSLR, MTh, ADFKE and ADFKF, respectively, likely indicates a real change in muscle flexibility.

A simplified version of the weight-bearing ankle lunge test: description and test-retest reliability.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to describe a new version of the weight-bearing ankle lunge test (WBLT) that is simple to administer, that allows clinicians and sports medicine practitioners to directly assess (in degrees) the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in a very short period of time while adopting a comfortable testing position; as well as (2) to determine the test-retest reliability of the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion measure obtained from the new version of the WBLT. A total of 50 active adults completed this study. All participants performed the new version of the WBLT on three different occasions, with a two-week interval between testing sessions. Reliability was examined through the change in the mean between consecutive pairs of testing sessions (ChM), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change at 95% confidence interval (MDC95), and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,k). The findings showed negligible or trivial ChM values for all the flexibility measures analysed (<1°). Furthermore, the SEM and MDC95 scores for the ankle dorsiflexion measure were 1.3 and 3.8 respectively, and the ICC2k was 0.95. Therefore, this study demonstrated that the ankle dorsiflexion measure obtained from the new version of the WBLT has excellent test-retest reliability scores. Thus, an observed change larger than 3.8° from baseline scores after performing a treatment would indicate that a real change in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was likely.

El entrenamiento de la flexibilidad: técnicas de estiramiento

Palabras clave: Estiramiento estatico. Estiramiento dinamico. Estiramiento balistico. Facilitacion neuromuscular propioceptiva. Rutinas de estiramiento. Rango de movimiento. RESUMEN La realizacion sistematizada de rutinas de estiramiento es una practica muy comun en el ambito clinico y fisico-deportivo con el proposito principal de mantener o mejorar la amplitud de movimiento de una articulacion o conjunto de articulaciones. Ademas, los estiramientos parecen ser un medio muy indicado para el cuidado, la prevencion y el mantenimiento de las capacidades fisicas de cada individuo o para su desarrollo.

Pruebas angulares de estimación de la flexibilidad isquiosural: descripción de los procedimientos exploratorios y valores de referencia

Resumen Las pruebas de valoracion basadas en medidas angulares son empleadas frecuentemente en el ambito clinico y cientifico para estimar y monitorizar la flexibilidad de la musculatura isquiosural. Son varias las pruebas angulares descritas en la literatura cientifica, entre las que se destacan: a) la prueba de elevacion de la pierna recta; b) la prueba del angulo popliteo; y c) las pruebas que estudian la disposicion de la pelvis y la porcion caudal del raquis lumbar en posicion de maxima flexion de tronco, diferenciando entre “pruebas lumbo-vertical en flexion” y “pruebas lumbo-horizontal en flexion”. Se han descrito limitaciones e inconvenientes para todos los protocolos, fundamentalmente en cuanto a la posible participacion de pelvis y raquis, posicion de la articulacion del tobillo (en flexion dorsal o posicion neutra), diferentes limites de normalidad en las exploraciones, aplicacion de distinta velocidad y fuerza en la realizacion de los tests, existencia o no de calentamiento previo y variabilidad de los instrumentos empleados. Esta especificidad metodologica puede repercutir en la decision final de eleccion de una u otra prueba por parte de cientificos, clinicos y demas profesionales del ambito de las Ciencias del Deporte. Por ello, los objetivos principales de esta revision bibliografica son: describir la metodologia de valoracion de las pruebas angulares mas empleadas en el ambito clinico y cientifico; asi como aportar valores de referencia que puedan ser utilizados por los profesionales para categorizar la flexibilidad isquiosural como normal o acortamiento.

Perfil de flexibilidad de la extremidad inferior en jugadores senior de balonmano

portes. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to define the normative lower-limb flexibility data in senior handball players. For it, the flexibility of the major lower-limb muscles was evaluated throughout 7 different peak joint ROM assessment tests (iliopsoas, quadriceps, adductors, hamstrings, gluteus, gas- trocnemius, soleus). 56 senior handball players with more than 9 years of sports experience took part in this study. The results of this study define the normative data as: 41,2o for the gastrocnemius, 43,1o for the soleus, 147,8o for the gluteus, 82,9o for the hamstrings, 47,5o for the adductors, 18,5o for the iliopsoas, and 125,2o for the quadriceps. The results of the current study demonstrate that the senior handball players assessed have higher normative data of lower-limb flexibility than the previously stabilised fle - xibility normative data for general population, healthy sedentary adults, as well as for recreationally active adults. Likewise, the normative lower-limb flexibility data for senior handball players are higher or similar than those reported for other sport (tennis, soccer, long distance runners), except for hamstring and iliopsoas flexibility. Finally, no significant differences were found between dominant and non-dominant leg and therefore contra late-

Pruebas angulares de estimación de la flexibilidad isquiosural: análisis de la fiabilidad y validez

Resumen Las pruebas de valoracion basadas en medidas angulares son empleadas frecuentemente en el ambito clinico y cientifico para estimar y monitorizar la flexibilidad de la musculatura isquiosural. Son varias las pruebas angulares descritas en la literatura cientifica, entre las que destacan: a) la prueba de elevacion de la pierna recta; b) la prueba del angulo popliteo y c) las pruebas que estudian la disposicion de la pelvis y la porcion caudal del raquis lumbar en posicion de maxima flexion de tronco, diferenciando entre “pruebas lumbo-vertical en flexion” y “pruebas lumbo-horizontal en flexion”. Se han descrito limitaciones e inconvenientes en todos los protocolos, fundamentalmente en cuanto a la posible participacion de pelvis y raquis, la posicion de la articulacion del tobillo (en flexion dorsal o flexion plantar), diferentes limites de normalidad en las exploraciones, aplicacion de distinta velocidad y fuerza en la realizacion de los test, existencia o no de calentamiento previo y variabilidad de los instrumentos empleados. La eleccion de uno u otro test debe estar basada en: a) la funcionalidad de su metodologia de evaluacion; b) su fiabilidad absoluta y relativa (intra- e interexaminador) y c) su validez para la estimacion de la flexibilidad isquiosural. Todo este conocimiento permitira disponer de informacion suficiente para adoptar un juicio de valor cientificamente justificado sobre que prueba de exploracion angular utilizar para categorizar a sus deportistas-pacientes (estudio de la validez) y/o monitorizar la eficacia de los tratamientos aplicados (estudio de la fiabilidad absoluta y relativa) para el mantenimiento o mejora de la flexibilidad de la musculatura isquiosural. Por ello, los objetivos de esta revision bibliografica son analizar y comparar la fiabilidad y validez de las pruebas angulares para la estimacion de la flexibilidad de la musculatura isquiosural.

Clasificación de los valores de rango de movimiento de la extremidad inferior en jugadores de fútbol sala

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively define the lower-limb values of range of motion in players of the 2nd Division of the National Futsal League. Method: 60 players completed the basic version of the ROM-SPORT protocol. Descriptive and percentile analyses were carried out to establish the normative values for normal and limited mobility for each movement assessed. Results and conclusion: The present study defines the normative profile of the lower-limb range of motion in players of the 2nd Division LNFS in a range between 8-17o for hip extension, 39-45o for ankle flexion with knee extended, 40-47o for the ankle flexion with knee flexed, 42-47o for hip abduction, 76-96o for hip flexion with knee extended, 116-139o for knee flexion and 141-147o for the hip flexion. Values above the normal range may be considered within the optimal profile while lower values can be considered within the limited profile.

Procedimientos de exploración y valores de referencia del rango de movimiento de la abducción de la cadera en deportistas. ¿Una herramienta en la prevención de lesiones?

The limited range of motion of the hip abduction by lower extensibility or tightness adductor predisposes certain sports injuries. The angular testing of Hip Abduction Straight Leg (HA SL ) and Hip Abduction in Flexion (HA F ) should be included in any sport musculoskeletal assessment. Using both screening tests specifically will assess the adductor extensibility. For the measurement range will require the use of a long arm goniometer and an inclinometer with a telescopic arm. In general, they found elevated levels of relative and absolute reliability in the test HA SL . Conversely, they have not found studies analyzing HA F reliability test.

Rango de movimiento de la extremidad inferior en atletas de duatlón

The purpose of this study was to measure the lower-limb flexibility data in senior duatlon athletes. For it, the flexibility of the major lower-limb muscles was evaluated throughout 7 different peak joint ROM assessment tests (gastrocnemius, soleus, hamstrings, quadriceps, iliopsoas, gluteus and adductors). 15 in senior duatlon athletes tookpart in this study (32.7±7.85 years; 67.1±4.8 Kg; 172.9±2.8 cm).The results of this study define the normative data as: 10.4oo for theiliopsoas, 40.3o for the gastrocnemius, 47.3o for the soleus, 50.7o for the adductors, 82.5o for the hamstrings, 116.7o for the quadricepsand, 145.9o for the gluteus. No significant differences were found between both legs and therefore muscle imbalances have been rejected.