File
D.V. Kunchana Ravihara1, J.A. Ashani Irosha1, K.M.K.G. Sudeera Darshana1, H.M. Maheshika Prabodhanie1, G. Amara Damayanthi Perera1
1General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Background: Hamstring flexibility is an important fitness component for professional athletes. Tightness and imbalances may result in significant sports injuries. Currently, many tests are used internationally to measure hamstring flexibility. These include the Sit and Reach (SRT), Back Saver Sit and Reach Test (BSSRT), Modified Sit and Reach Test (MSRT) and Passive Knee Extension Test (PKET). The Passive Straight Leg Raise Test (PSLRT) is commonly used as the criterion measure. The setting and the size of the testing group limits the practicality of the use of some of these tests. In the Western province of Sri Lanka, the most commonly practiced test in sports physiotherapy clinics is PKET where SRT is the commonest test used in sport related field settings. To select the most appropriate test, health care professionals would benefit from knowing the validity and the reliability of each test. Further, the criterion related validity of forward reach tests and an angular test in measuring hamstring flexibility have not been investigated in a same study.
Purpose: To compare various hamstring flexibility tests including SRT, BSSRT, MSRT and PKET against the criterion standard (PSLRT) in a sample of national level athletes to identify the most accurate and efficient test to measure hamstring flexibility corresponding to the setting.
Methods: Ninety-four national level athletes, aged 20-29 (mean 24.5) years, volunteered to participate in this cross- sectional study at the physiotherapy rehabilitation center, ministry of sports Sri Lanka. The PKET, BSSRT, SRT and MSRT were compared with the PSLRT. Data collection including taking measurements and recording was conducted by five trained investigators under the supervision of the chief physiotherapist. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to study the relationship between the PSLRT and the other tests. The association between PSLRT and the other tests was identified using the stepwise multiple regression. Paired t test was used to compare left and right sides.
Results: A significant difference is not found among the left and right sides of the PSLRT scores of males (P-0.08) and females (P-0.32). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient of PKET (0.77), BSSRT (0.70) and SRT (0.75) were high in females where MSRT (0.51) had a moderate value. Only the PKET (0.71) showed a high value for males while all the other tests had a moderate value (MSRT-0.60, SRT-0.59, BSSRT-0.57). All the tests of both genders showed a significant association (p < 0.05). The PKET explained the highest coefficient of determination (R2) for both males(R2-0.50) and females (R2-0.60).
Conclusion(s): The PKET had the highest criterion related validity for both females and males. Considering the other forward reach tests, the MSRT of males had a moderate validity while the BSSRT of females had a high validity.
Implications: The criterion measure PSLRT is preferred whenever the most accurate measurements of hamstring flexibility are needed. The PKET can also be used for both males and females. The BSSRT for females and MSRT for males also can be use depending on whether there are any practical issues in using angular tests in field settings.
Funding, acknowledgements: The research is not funded by any source.
Keywords: Hamstring Flexibility, Sit-and-reach tests, Criterion validity
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri lanaka
Committee: Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine
Ethics number: RP/S/2018/22
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
