Reliability of tests for proprioceptive sensation of the knee

Abstract

BackgroundA number of tests are described in the literature to know the proprioreception of the knee joint. There is no report of testing the reliability/ superiority of one test over the other. The present prospective study was designed to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of various tests in determining the proprioceptive sensation of the knee joint. MethodsProprioceptive sensation was tested in the normal knees of 50 patients. Eight commonly described tests: active reproduction of passive positioning (ARPP); threshold for detection of passive movement (TDPM); single-leg forward-hop test (SLHT); single-limb standing test (SLST) eyes open (EO): reproduction of standing position (distance error); SLST EO postural sways; SLST EO balance acts (BA); SLST eyes closed (EC): postural sways; and SLST EC balance acts were performed at day 0, 1.5 months, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. The mean values (±SD) of all subjects for each test for each visit were calculated.The consistency of each test was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha for the five visits. The tests were graded amongst each other in terms of consistency and reliability on the basis of the value of Cronbach’s alpha. ResultsThe mean age of the patients included in the study was 24.56 ± 5.386 (range 18–43 years).All the tests except SLST EO balance acts were observed to be of good consistency and reliability (Cronbach's alpha >0.7). ConclusionSeven tests (ARPP, TDPM, SLHT, SLST EO postural sways, SLST EO reproduction of standing position; SLST EC postural sways; and SLST EC BA) were consistent and reliable. One test (SLST EO BA) was found to be unreliable for the assessment of proprioception of the knee joint.