title: Reliability of the active and passive knee extension test in acute hamstring injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hamstring flexibility measurements are of clinical relevance for the prognosis of hamstring injury and for monitoring recovery after such injury. The active knee extension test (AKET) and passive knee extension test (PKET) are proven to be reliable in healthy subjects. Reliability has not been determined in patients with acute hamstring injuries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine intertester reliability of the AKET and the PKET in patients with acute hamstring injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty consecutive athletes with acute hamstring injuries confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging were included in this study. For each subject, 2 testers performed the AKET and the PKET within 5 days after injury. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable difference (MDD) were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the injured leg, the ICC of the AKET was 0.89 and of the PKET 0.77, the SEM of the AKET was 5.3° and of the PKET 7.6°, and the MDD of the AKET of the 15° and of the PKET 21°.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good intertester reliability was found for the AKET and the PKET in injured hamstrings. Thus, both tests can be reliably used to assess flexibility in injured hamstrings, despite pain and discomfort during testing.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedics, Room Hs-104, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. g.reurink@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Gustaaf
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reurink
authors.forename: Gert Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Goudswaard
authors.forename: Henricus G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Oomen
authors.forename: Maarten H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: Johannes L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tol
authors.forename: Jan A N
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Verhaar
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: flexibility; hamstring injury; knee extension test; range of motion; reliability