Determining meaningful changes in pelvic-on-femoral position during the Trendelenburg test.
BACKGROUND
Hip abductor muscle weakness is related to many lower extremity injuries. A simple procedure, the Trendelenburg test, may be used to assess hip abductor performance in patient populations.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the minimal detectable change (MDC) in pelvic-on-femoral (P-O-F) position of the stance limb during the Trendelenburg test.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
45 healthy women (28 +/- 8 years) and 45 healthy men (33 +/- 11 years).


METHODS
P-O-F position in degrees in single-leg stance.


RESULTS
Baseline P-O-F position (hip adduction) was 83 degrees +/- 3 degrees with a range from 76 degrees to 94 degrees. The intratester reliability (ICC3,1) for measurement of P-O-F position using a universal goniometer was 0.58 with a standard error of measurement (SEM) of 2 degrees. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was calculated to be 4 degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
If a person's P-O-F position changes less than 4 degrees between measurements, then the P-O-F position is within measurement error and it can be determined that there has been no change in the performance of the hip abductor muscles when examined by the Trendelenburg test.
Youdas
James W
JW
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. youdas.james@mayo.edu
Mraz
Sara T
ST
Norstad
Barbara J
BJ
Schinke
Jennifer J
JJ
Hollman
John H
JH
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur; D018475:Head-Down Tilt; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010384:Pelvic Bones; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology