INTER-DAY RELIABILITY LEG, KNEE AND ANKLE STIFFNESS MEASURES DURING HOPPING

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter-day reliability of a common method used to measure and calculate leg, ankle and knee joint musculoskeletal stiffness (KLeg, KAnk, Kknee) during hopping. Limited research exists on the reliability of lower extremity musculoskeletal stiffness measures; therefore the reliability of many common methods employed in research studies on hopping has not been adequately established. Twenty active male participants performed one trial of 15 single and double-legged hops at 2.2Hz and at a self-selected frequency during two sessions, separated by 3-7 days. Excellent reliability was shown for KLeg regardless of whether the pace was controlled or self selected, however KAnk and KKnee exhibited only moderate reliability results.