Subject Positioning
For flexibility measures, subjects were positioned supine on an examination table under a polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe frame apparatus (diameter = 1.6 cm, crossbar length = 66 cm, height = 50 cm, base length = 64 cm) for all AKE measurements. Subjects stabilized the apparatus by holding on to the upright pipes that were on either side of the hips. The PVC crossbar helped subjects maintain active right hip positioning of 90° of flexion during the AKE movement. We used a universal goniometer to measure a right hip angle of 90°. Once this hip angle was determined, the PVC apparatus was positioned to allow the distal anterior thigh to maintain contact with the overlying crossbar. Throughout the procedure, the left hip remained at 00 of flexion. After hip positioning, we used the goniometer to position the knee at 900 of flexion. Once this knee angle was achieved, we placed a gravity-assisted protractor (Empire Level Manufacturing Corp, Milwaukee, WI) on the lateral aspect of the leg with a hook-and-loop strap 2.54 cm below the fibular head (Figure 1) and set it to read . Knee joint range of motion was reported in de rees from full extension (ie, 1800).