Date of Award

1996

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Beverly Johnson

Keywords

Knee -- physiology; Knee Injuries -- rehabilitation; Muscle Contraction -- physiology

Abstract

Technological advances in isokinetic devices allow the clinician to objectively assess and rehabilitate injuries using concentric and eccentric contractions at different speeds. The purpose of this research project is to establish concentric and eccentric normative ratio values of the quadriceps muscle on the Kinetic Communicator (Kin-Com, Chattecx Corp., Chattanooga, TN) dynamometer. A sample of 19 females and 12 males aged 20-38 (mean for females = 24.32 ± 3.87, mean for males = 27.67 ± 5.80) were tested on the KinCom for maximum concentric and eccentric torque values during knee extension using a 70° range of motion at 90 and 1200/sec. The actual test included three sets of three repetitions of voluntary maximum isokinetic contractions of the quadriceps at each speed. The mean maximal eccentric/concentric ratio (ft-Ibs) was 1.32 ± 0.31 for the females and 1.30 ± 0.18 for the males at 900/sec. At 1200/sec, the ratio was 1.34 ± 0.33 for the females and 1.34 ± 0.30 for the males. These values can be used clinically as an indicator of progress or for formulating accurate rehabilitation goals for patients with knee involvement.

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