Hip Flexion (Long Lever)
Setup
1: Lie supine, sacrum centred over gridline on base mat, legs extended flat on floor, hips in neutral, pillow under head
2: Adjust housing height and subject position to align cuff 3-5cm above ankle (medial/lateral malleolus) so the weight of the leg must be cleared from the floor to touch the pad and produce force
3: Rotate bar to ensure cuff is flush with leg and providing good contact with anterior ankle. Ensure sensor arm is at right angles to tibia/shank.
4: Record height of top of carriers
5: Depending on width of pelvis subject may need to fine tune position by sliding hips slightly to left or right to keep thigh in neutral in frontal plane and make contact with sensor
Cues
1: Test unilaterally
2: Keep pelvis still, hollow abdominal wall. Draw femoral head into hip socket.
3: Lift leg slowly to lightly touch pad and begin to generate pressure against the pad, ‘shortening the Psoas guy wire’ medial to the hip
4: Maintain lumbar and pelvic posture throughout
5: Feel fatigue/work in the anterior hip and mid thigh (hip flexor and rectus femoris)
6: Build to maximum force over 5 seconds
