Isokinetic motion is unique in that the force developed by the subject is equally matched by the machine.
Isokinetics has been shown to effective in many situations. Below are specific examples for selected joints:
Knee:
- Genêt et al (2008) found isokinetic strength to be related to disability, impairment and satisfaction following knee replacement.
All the below authors used isokinetic strength as the gold standard measure following arthroscopy.
- Ericsson YB et al (2006),
- Koutras G, Pappas E, Terzidis IP (2009),
- Woods GW, Elkousy HA, O’Connor DP (2006),
- Miura K et al. (2004)
- Fabiś J (2007) found isokinetic training increased muscular function following ACL reconstruction
In fact in ACL rehab:
- Asagumo H et al (2007),
- Moisala AS et al (2007),
- Harilainen A, Linko E, Sandelin J (2006),
- Goradia VK, Grana WA, Pearson SE (2006),
- Lee S et al. (2004)
Amongst literally hundreds of others all used isokinetic strength testing as a gold standard following ACL reconstruction.
Isokinetics testing of strength is also extensively used in rehabilitation of the ACL deficient knee (a growing trend world wide) as demonstrated as early as 2004 by Patel RR, et al.
Shoulder:
- Ellenbecker TS, Davies GJ. (2000) this was a meta analysis of isokinetics in the shoulder. This was part of their conclusion.
‘Isokinetic training and testing is an important part of the comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation of the patient with a shoulder injury. Research has demonstrated its efficacy in training and in providing clinically relevant information regarding muscular performance.’
- Fabis J (2007) used isokinetic evaluation pre and post arthroscopy of the shoulder with nerve entrapment.
- Signorile JF, (2005) showed isokinetics could predict and improve tennis performance.
- Bellumore Y, Mansat M, Assoun J. (1994) stated that muscle performance was vital to shoulder head stability before and after rotator cuff rupture and repair. They used and suggested isokinetics to achieve this
- Bayder M et al. (2009) said isokinetic rehab of full thickness rotator cuff tears demonstrated ‘satisfactory’ results without the need for surgery.
Elbow:
- Peeters T et al. (2009) used isokinetics as the assessment of strength following biceps tendon re-attachment
- Pienimäki TT, Siira PT, Vanharanta H. (2002) showed isokinetic strength related to and could reduce elbow tendon dysfunction (assess and reduce tennis elbow)
Wrist:
- Croisier JL et al (2007) used isokinetics to resolve wrist tendonopathies
Hip:
- Boling MC, Padua DA, Alexander-Creighton R (2009) and Nakagawa TH (2008) both found hip strength to be an important component in some knee problems.
- ML, Zhang Y, Rogers MW (2008) found hip strength to be vital in the prediction of falls in the elderly
- Silder A, Heiderscheit B, Thelen DG (2008) found hip strength became more vital as you aged and could compensate for poor ankle strength.
- Bhave A, (2007) and Rossi MD et al. (2006) looked at isokinetic strength following hip replacement.
Ankle:
- Gribble PA, Robinson RH. (2009) and Sekir U. Et al. (2008) found ankle strength to be vital in stability around the joint.
- Hartmann A et al. (2008) found ankle strength to influence mobility in elderly populations.
- Ozçaldiran B, Durmaz B. (2008) said isokinetic evaluation and strengthening was a vital tool when working with sprint athletes and indeed swimmers for injury prevention and performance management.
- Hohendorff B et al. (2008) Gigante A et al. (2008) used isokinetics as the gold standard measure of strength following Achilles Tendon repair.
- Sandrey MA, Kent TE. (2008) and Fox A et al. (2008) found the ankle became more unstable as the muscles became weaker
- Mahieu NN et al. (2008) showed the properties of the Achilles Tendon could be influenced by isokinetic training