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. 2021 Apr 1;16(2):335-341.
doi: 10.26603/001c.21477.

Concurrent Validation and Reference Values of Gluteus Medius Clinical Test

Amanda S S Teixeira  1 , Paula L Silva  2 , Sabrina P Cintra  1 , Fernanda Viegas  1 , Luciana D Mendonça  3 , Natália F N Bittencourt  4
Affiliations

Concurrent Validation and Reference Values of Gluteus Medius Clinical Test

Amanda S S Teixeira et al. Int J Sports Phys Ther. .

Abstract

Context: The hip abductor muscles, mainly the gluteus medius, are responsible for controlling hip adduction in a closed kinetic chain. Frontal plane knee alignment, assessed during functional activities such squatting, jumping and running, may overload joint structures, like the anterior cruciate ligament and patellofemoral joint. The hand-held dynamometer is reliable and effective for testing the muscular strength of the hip abductors.

Objectives: 1. To assess the concurrent validity between the gluteus medius clinical test and a maximum isometric force test of the hip abductors using the hand-held dynamometer; (2) to determine the intra and inter-examiner reliability for the application of the gluteus medius clinical test; and (3) to describe reference values of gluteus medius clinical test on a population of youth athletes.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: Thirty healthy individuals were recruited for validity and reliability testing. On the first day, participants performed the maximal isometric test of the hip abductors, measured via hand-held dynamometry. On the following week, the gluteus medius clinical test was performed. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,2) were computed for the reliability analysis, with a 95% confidence interval. To generate reference values, the gluteus medius clinical test was performed on 273 athletes.

Results: The results of this study indicated a weak positive correlation (r = 0.436, p = 0.001) between tests, which indicates that they examine different domains of gluteus medius muscle function, likely endurance and muscle strength. The magnitude of computed ICCs (>0.95) indicates excellent intra- and inter-examiner reliability.

Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that the gluteus medius clinical test is reliable and examines a domain of muscular function not fully captured by HHD. The clinical test developed in this study is low-cost and can be included for gluteus medius assessment.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Keywords: endurance; gluteus medius; injury; movement system; physiotherapy; strength.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:. Position for the hand-held dynamometer test for hip abductor torque test.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:. Participant position for GM Clinical Test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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