title: Forward lunge as a functional performance test in ACL deficient subjects: test-retest reliability.
abstract: The forward lunge movement may be used as a functional performance test of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient and reconstructed subjects. The purposes were 1) to determine the test-retest reliability of a forward lunge in healthy subjects and 2) to determine the required numbers of repetitions necessary to yield satisfactory reliability. Nineteen healthy subjects performed four trials of a forward lunge on two different days. The movement time, impulses of the ground reaction forces (IFz, IFy), knee joint kinematics and dynamics during the forward lunge were calculated. The relative reliability was determined by calculation of Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). The IFz, IFy and the positive work of the knee extensors showed excellent reliability (ICC >0.75). All other variables demonstrated acceptable reliability (0.4>ICC<0.75). The relative reliability increased when more than a single forward lunge was used. In conclusion, the reliability was acceptable. It is recommended to represent the biomechanical variables as an average of at least three trials of the forward lunge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Division of Biomechanics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. t.alkjaer@mai.ku.dk
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alkjaer
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dyhre-Poulsen
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Simonsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult