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Kinematics of the Double-Leg-Lowering Test for Abdominal Muscle Strength

2002; American Physical Therapy Association; Volume: 32; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2519/jospt.2002.32.9.432

1938-1344

Chad M. Zannotti, Richard W. Bohannon, David Tiberio, Michael J. Dewberry, Richard W. Murray,

Shoulder Injury and Treatment

Study Design Prospective descriptive study. Objective To investigate the kinematics of the double-leg-lowering (DLL) test of abdominal muscle strength. Background Adequate strength of the abdominal muscles is necessary for many household, occupational, and sports activities. Therapists, therefore, need valid measures of abdominal muscle strength. Methods and Measures A convenience sample of 17 subjects (7 women, 10 men) was tested. Using reflective spheres to identify specific body segments, subjects were videotaped while performing DLL under 2 conditions: attempting (controlled) prevention of anterior pelvic tilting versus not attempting (uncontrolled) prevention of anterior pelvic tilting. Videotape was analyzed using the PEAK 5 2-dimensional system. Results The pelvis tilted anteriorly by the time the extremities were lowered a mean 3.6°, regardless of condition. No significant difference in anterior pelvic tilting was associated with the 2 DLL conditions (F = 2.95, P = 0.105) but pelvic tilting did increase significantly as the lower extremities were lowered from vertical (F = 98.41, P < 0.001). Conclusions There appears to be a natural tendency for the pelvis to tilt anteriorly from very early in the DLL maneuver. As healthy young subjects do not appear able to prevent the tilting, the scoring system associated with the DLL test should be questioned. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2002;32:432–436.