Testing Knee Strength With Isometrics
Have you struggled with knee pain despite being active? Or maybe you’re a runner that has to slow down or modify your training due to knee pain. When assessing runners in our physical therapy clinic, one test we like to do is single leg strength.
Using this device, we can measure force output, and specifically what we like to compare when testing our athletes is isometric peak force.
Above is one way we as physical therapists test single leg strength, which we find really useful for our athletes and runners. What Kimmy is demonstrating above is an isometric max test on her left leg.
This can be helpful if there is weakness (often related to pain), and whether she is symmetrical from side to side.
Many of our patients come to us with knee pain and with hiking or running, and usually their injured or painful side is also weaker.
In physical therapy, what we like to look for is improvement in strength, as this can help with both symptom or pain relief while also helping with athletic performance.
At Peak Pursuit Performance and Rehab, we offer both in person physical therapy services in Salt Lake City, Utah and online remote consultations for those outside the city. If you are looking for help with your knee pain or running performance, give us a call at (801) 215-9087.
