title: RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF A MODIFIED ISOMETRIC DYNAMOMETER IN THE ASSESSMENT OF MUSCULAR PERFORMANCE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a modified isometric dynamometer (MID) in performance deficits of the knee extensor and flexor muscles in normal individuals and in those with ACL reconstructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male subjects were invited to participate of the study, being divided into three groups with 20 subjects each: control group (GC), group of individuals with ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon graft (GTP, and group of individuals with ACL reconstruction with hamstrings graft (GTF). All individuals performed isometric tests in the MID, muscular strength deficits collected were subsequently compared to the tests performed on the Biodex System 3 operating in the isometric and isokinetic mode at speeds of 60°/s and 180o/s. Intraclass ICC correlation calculations were done in order to assess MID reliability, specificity, sensitivity and Kappa's consistency coefficient calculations, respectively, for assessing the MID's validity in detecting muscular deficits and intra- and intergroup comparisons when performing the four strength tests using the ANOVA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modified isometric dynamometer (MID) showed excellent reliability and good validity in the assessment of the performance of the knee extensor and flexor muscles groups. In the comparison between groups, the GTP showed significantly greater deficits as compared to the GTF and GC groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Isometric dynamometers connected to mechanotherapy equipments could be an alternative option to collect data concerning performance deficits of the extensor and flexor muscles groups of the knee in subjects with ACL reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: PhD student in Medical Sciences, Area of Concentration in Orthopedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Ribeirāo Preto, Universidade de Sāo Paulo (FMRP-USP), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Antunes
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, School of Medicine, Ribeirāo Preto, Universidade de Sāo Paulo (FMRP-USP), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bevilaqua-Grossi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Rehabilitation of the Lomotor Apparatus, School of Medicine, Ribeirāo Preto, Universidade de Sāo Paulo (FMRP-USP), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, School of Medicine, Ribeirāo Preto - Universidade de Sāo Paulo (FMRP-USP), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleber Jansen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Paccola
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Sāo Carlos (UFScar), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tânia Fátima
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.affiliation: Master's degree student in Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Sāo Carlos (UFScar), Sāo Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christiane Lanatovits
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Preceptor, Residency Program in Orthopedics, Knee Surgery, Hospital Municipal Celso Pierro, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (HMCPPUCC).
authors.forename: Wilson A Mello
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Junior
keywords: Knee, Anterior cruciate ligament; Protocols; Retrospective studies