Moderate reliability of the lateral step down test amongst experienced and novice physical therapists.

Background/introduction: The lateral step-down test is used to appraise movement quality in patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP), however, it is unclear if reliability of the test is affected by physical therapist experience.

Objective: Determine if there is a difference in reliability between 'experienced' and 'novice' physical therapists appraising movement quality of patients with PFP during the lateral step-down test.

Methods: Three 'experienced' and 3 'novice' physical therapists analyzed movement quality of 22 participants [mean age (SD) 28.

Performance on the modified star excursion balance test at the time of return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Study Design: Cross-sectional. Objectives To compare performance on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) between participants with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) at the time of return to sport and uninjured control participants.

Background: The modified SEBT is a clinical tool to assess neuromuscular control deficits.

Kinetic analyses of maximal effort soccer kicks in female collegiate athletes.

To determine the effect of plant leg and approach condition on the torques of the hip, knee, and ankle in soccer kicking tasks, nine female collegiate soccer players performed a series of kicking tasks from three different approach conditions. Kinematic data of the hip, knee, and ankle were recorded and joint torques of the plant leg were calculated. Peak flexor torque of the hip and ankle was greater for the dominant than the non-dominant plant leg for center and off-axis approach conditions (P < 0.