Abstract des Autors

Hamstring stiffness (KHAM) and leg stiffness (KLEG) are commonly examined relative to athletic performance and injury risk. Given these may be modifiable, it is important to understand day-to-day variations inherent in these measures before use in training studies. In addition, the extent to which KHAM and KLEG measure similar active stiffness characteristics has not been established. We investigated the interday measurement consistency of KHAM and KLEG, and examined the extent to which KLEG predicted KHAM in 6 males and 9 females. KHAM was moderately consistent day-to-day (ICC2,5 = .71; SEM = 76.3 N·m–1), and 95% limits of agreement (95% LOA) revealed a systematic bias with considerable absolute measurement error (95% LOA = 89.6 ± 224.8 N·m–1). Day-to-day differences in procedural factors explained 59.4% of the variance in day-to-day differences in KHAM. Bilateral and unilateral KLEG was more consistent (ICC2,3 range = .87–.94; SEM range = 1.0–2.91 kN·m–1) with lower absolute error (95% LOA bilateral= –2.0 ± 10.3; left leg = –0.36 ± 3.82; right leg = –1.05 ± 3.61 kN·m–1). KLEG explained 44% of the variance in KHAM (P < .01). Findings suggest that procedural factors must be carefully controlled to yield consistent and precise KHAM measures. The ease and consistency of KLEG, and moderate correlation with KHAM, may steer clinicians toward KLEG when measuring lower-extremity stiffness for screening studies and monitoring the effectiveness of training interventions over time.