title: The relationship between grading and instrumented measurements of anterior knee joint laxity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between clinical judgments of anterior knee laxity and instrumented measurement of anterior tibial translation is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between certified athletic trainers'grading of anterior knee laxity and instrumented measurements of anterior tibial translation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, blinded, clinical assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Model patients receiving evaluation of anterior knee laxity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve model patients were evaluated using a MEDmetric KT1000 knee ligament Arthrometer to establish instrumented measurements of anterior translation values at the tibio-femoral joint. Twenty-two certified athletic trainers were provided with operational definitions of potential laxity grades and examined the model patients to make judgments of anterior knee laxity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation between clinical judgments and instrumented measurements of anterior tibial translation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical judgments and instrumented measurements were mutually independent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior tibial translation grading by certified athletic trainers should be interpreted with caution during clinical decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Kinesiology Department, SUNY, Cortland, USA. hurleyw@em.cortland.edu
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denegar
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001265:Athletic Injuries; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D014481:United States