can greater segmental fixation enhance the reproducibility?
OBJECTIVE: To improve the reproducibility of testing hip abduction and adduction using an isokinetic dynamometer by a novel testing protocol. DESIGN: Test-retest design. SETTING: Biodynamics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen healthy subjects (9 men, 6 women; age, 22.4+/-0.5 y) were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: Two setups were compared: the first according to manufacturer’s guidelines (setup A) and the second a novel setup incorporating pelvic fixation (setup B). Setups A and B were performed in a random order. Both setups included the same battery of isokinetic (30 degrees/s, 60 degrees/s) and isometric tests, and were repeated 1 week later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The peak torque for each abduction and adduction exercise was noted and pelvic motion during testing was recorded. RESULTS: Setup B significantly (P<.05) reduced transverse pelvic rotation by between 7.5 degrees and 8.0 degrees dependent on test speed. Mean differences for reproducibility of peak torque, ranged from 0.8 to 11.7