Posterior Thigh Isometric Force Measurement with Extended Knee

Aims: The establishment of normal values for the hamstring flexibility and isometric posterior thigh force of healthy adults performing standard motor task consisting of acting against a rubber band in the supine position.

Study Design: Observation and ecological.

Place and Duration of Study: During a Sports Medicine three days event (Congreso DePunta) in Uruguay, September 2018.

Methodology: Random samples of 21 men and 16 women practicing different sport activities were asked to have their biomechanics properties measured by DINABANG, which is a novel clinical instrument to guide lower limb rehabilitation. DINABANG measures the force signal during the following specific motor task: in supine position, consists of hip flexion with fully extended knee and with malleolus attached to a rubber band held by the Physical Therapist behind the head of the person, until further effort would lift the person from the mat.

Results: Normal values for body weight specific peak force during isometric effort with extended limb in supine position and malleolus strap tied to an elastic band are (mean ± SD) 1.7 ± 0.4 / 1.9 ± 0.5 N•Kg-1 for men and 2.1 ± 0.5 / 2.3 ± 0.5 N•Kg-1 for women and weak/strong limb respectively. The volunteer-defined flexibility angles of the healthy young populations (21 men and 16 women) were found to be 67.5° ± 6.5° and 77.5°± 9.7° merging the distributions of both lower limbs, strong and weak.

Conclusion: These values will be included in subsequent versions of DINABANG to be used in clinical practice to help avoiding muscle strains by quantifying efforts during rehabilitation under Physical Therapist monitoring. DINABANG allows to safely perform a motor task in the medical office. It can be said that DINABANG is compatible with an ecological approach to rehabilitation.