Test-retest reliability of the range of motion and stiffness based on discomfort perception

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Beltrão, Natália Barros^{a; b; *} | Santos, Camila Ximenes^b | de Oliveira, Valéria Mayaly Alves^b | Pirauá, André Luiz Torres^{b; c} | Pitangui, Ana Carolina Rodarti^d | de Araújo, Rodrigo Cappato^{b; d}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil | [b] Physical Education Graduate Program, School of Physical Education, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil | [c] Department of Physical Education, Asces College, Caruaru, Brazil | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pernambuco, Petrolina, Brazil

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Natália Barros Beltrão, Department of Physical Education, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Rua Tapacurá, 75. Onteiro, Recife-PE, 52061-140, Brazil. Tel.: +55 81 987414700; E-mail:nat.barros@gmail.com

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Range of Motion (ROM) and passive torque have been widely used to evaluate flexibility stretching protocols, but little attention has been given to the reliability of these measurements. OBJECTIVE: To verify the interday reliability of isokinetic dynamometer for assessing ROM measures based on discomfort perception (initial and maximum), static and dynamic measures of passive torque during a leg extension movement on a young adult sample. METHODS: Twenty students (13 men; 7 women) aged between 18 and 30 years attended the laboratory to perform the test and retest with 2-7 days interval. The evaluations included: Initial Discomfort Angle (IDA), Passive dynamic torque (Stiffness), Passive static torque (Viscoelastic Stress Relaxation-VSR) and Maximal Discomfort Angle (MDA). Reliability was tested by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), one-sample t-test and Bland-Altman charts. RESULTS: Stiffness (ICC = 0.93), IDA (ICC = 0.90) and MDA (ICC = 0.87) showed excellent reliability values, while VSR had moderate ones (ICC = 0.59). Bland-Altman plots indicated bias close or equal to zero. The one-sample t-test for all measures reinforced the absence of a systematic error. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic and static stiffness measures and ROM based on the subject's discomfort perception may be applied to relevant clinical issues.

Keywords: Reproducibility of results, muscle stretching exercises, joint flexibility

DOI: 10.3233/IES-169162

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 187-192, 2017