Validity and Reliability of a Digital Inclinometer to Assess Knee Joint Position Sense in an Open Kinetic Chain.

Context: New methods are being validated to easily evaluate the knee joint position sense (JPS) due to its role in the sports movement and the risk of injury. However, no studies to date have considered the open kinetic chain (OKC) technique, despite the biomechanical differences compared with closed kinetic chain movements. Objective: To analyze the validity and reliability of a digital inclinometer to measure the knee JPS in the OKC movement. Design: The validity and intertester and intratester reliability of a digital inclinometer for measuring knee JPS were evaluated. Setting: Sports research laboratory. Participants: A total of 18 athletes (11 males and 7 females; 28.4 [6.6] y; 71.9 [14.0] kg; 1.77 [0.09] m; 22.8 [3.2] kg/m2) voluntary participated in this study. Main Outcomes Measures: Absolute angular error (AAE), relative angular error (RAE), and variable angular error (VAE) of knee JPS in an OKC. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of the mean (SEM) were calculated to determine the validity and reliability of the inclinometer. Data showed excellent validity of the inclinometer to obtain proprioceptive errors compared with the video analysis in JPS tasks (AAE: ICC = .981, SEM = 0.08; RAE: ICC = .974, SEM = 0.12; VAE: ICC = .973, SEM = 0.07). Intertester reliability was also excellent for all the proprioceptive errors (AAE: ICC = .967, SEM = 0.04; RAE: ICC = .974, SEM = 0.03; VAE: ICC = .939, SEM = 0.08). Similar results were obtained for intratester reliability (AAE: ICC = .861, SEM = 0.1; RAE: ICC = .894, SEM = 0.1; VAE: ICC = .700, SEM = 0.2). Conclusions: The digital inclinometer is a valid and reliable method to assess the knee JPS in OKC. Sport professionals may evaluate the knee JPS to monitor its deterioration during training or improvements throughout the rehabilitation process.

Validity and Reliability of a Digital Inclinometer to Assess Knee Joint-Position Sense in a Closed Kinetic Chain.

CONTEXT: Knee joint position sense (JPS) is a key parameter for optimum performance in many sports but is frequently negatively affected by injuries and/or fatigue during training sessions. Although evaluation of JPS may provide key information to reduce the risk of injury, it often requires expensive and/or complex tools that make monitoring proprioceptive deterioration difficult. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the validity and reliability of a digital inclinometer to measure knee JPS in a closed kinetic chain (CKC). DESIGN: The validity and intertester and intratester reliability of a digital inclinometer for measuring knee JPS were assessed. SETTING: Biomechanics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 10 athletes (5 men and 5 women; 26.2 ± 1.3 y, 71.7 ± 12.4 kg; 1.75 ± 0.09 m; 23.5 ± 3.9 kg/m2). INTERVENTION: Knee JPS was measured in a CKC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute angular error (AAE) of knee JPS in a CKC. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of the mean (SEM) were calculated to determine the validity and reliability of the inclinometer. Data showed that the inclinometer had a high level of validity compared with an isokinetic dynamometer (ICC = 1.0, SEM = 1.39, p < 0.001), and there was very good intra- and inter-tester reliability for reading the inclinometer (ICC = 1.0, SEM = 0.85, p < 0.001). Compared with AutoCAD video analysis, inclinometer validity was very high (ICC = 0.980, SEM = 3.46, p < 0.001) for measuring AAE during knee JPS in a CKC. In addition, the intertester reliability of the inclinometer for obtaining AAE was very high (ICC = .994, SEM = 1.67, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The inclinometer provides a valid and reliable method for assessing knee JPS in a CKC. Health and sports professionals could take advantage of this tool to monitor proprioceptive deterioration in athletes.

Incidencia de alteraciones ortopédicas en aspirantes a danza. Test de aptitud / Effect of orthopedic dysfunctions on dance candidates. Aptitude test

En el presente trabajo se realiza un estudio de las alteraciones ortopédicas encontradas en las aspirantes al acceso al Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Murcia en los tres últimos años, encontrando que este colectivo presenta unas características peculiares, incluso en su fase de acceso, donde predomina un aumento de la elasticidad de todas las zonas anatómicas exploradas. Al mismo tiempo se establece un test de valoración y aptitud para la danza desde el punto de vista médico, cuyas características son: Fácil reproducción. Sencillez de ejecución. Económico en material y tiempo de realización. Evitar estudios cruentos. Sencilla interpretación. Aplicable a grandes grupos de bailarinas. Por este motivo, en cooperación con el profesorado del Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Murcia, se decidió elaborar desde el curso académico 1994/95, un test que sirviese para valorar las características de las bailarinas y que se utilizaría para la selección de aspirantes al acceso del Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Murcia. En el test se incluiría fundamentalmente una valoración del aparato locomotor, por ser este el más solicitado en la práctica de la danza. Por este motivo se realiza una exploración de la columna, de la movilidad de las caderas, de las rodillas, de los pies, sin olvidar la exploración dela musculatura posterior del muslo y del tríceps sural tan importantes para la danza. También se incluye el test del "flamenco" para valorar el equilibrio de las aspirantes y una valoración del estado nutricional por el riesgo de anorexia nerviosa en este colectivo. El objetivo de este test es contribuir, junto a una exhaustiva valoración artística, a facilitar el acceso a las aspirantes mejor dotadas y más cualificadas tanto física, como artísticamente para poder aprender en las mejores condiciones posibles, con el menor riesgo de lesiones, el difícil arte de la danza y al mismo tiempo disponer de los máximos criterios de objetividad para el ingreso de alumnos en el citado centro de Danza (AU)