Knee isokinetic test scores and functional hop tests findings: Are they related?

BACKGROUND: Both isokinetic testing and functional tests are commonly used during the rehabilitation programme of individuals. Limited information exists in the literature, regarding the correlation between these two testing methods. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship among quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic performance values and those derived from three functional assessment tests in a group of healthy participants. METHODS: Twenty-five men, were assessed via 1) three functional tests: single hop for distance (SHD), triple hop for distance (THD) and single timed hop (STH) and 2) isokinetic concentric bilateral knee flexion and extension strength values [Mean Peak Moment (MPM), Total Work (TW) and Average Power (AP)] at 60, 180 and 300 degrees/s. RESULTS: Fair correlations were calculated between the bodyweight normalized scores of the functional tests and those of the normalized isokinetic variables. None of the three angular velocities and none of the three functional tests appeared to be more indicative to functional performance than the others. CONCLUSION: There is the need for dynamometry in conjunction with functional tests for a more comprehensive evaluation of knee extension and also flexion performance.