Those of you who have come across or use the Double Leg-Lowering (DLL) test
for abdominal strength will be interested in reading this recent study which
questioned its value and the way in which it currently is used. It concluded
that there appears to be a natural tendency for the pelvis to tilt anteriorly
from very early in the DLL action and, since healthy individuals do not
appear able to prevent the tilting, the scoring system associated with the
DLL test should be questioned.
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J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2002 Sept; 32(9): 432-6
Kinematics of the double-leg-lowering test for abdominal muscle strength.
Zannotti CM, Bohannon RW, Tiberio D, Dewberry MJ, Murray R.
STUDY DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the
kinematics of the double-leg-lowering (DLL) test of abdominal muscle
strength. BACKGROUND: Adequate strength of the abdominal muscles is
necessary for many household, occupational, and sports activities.
Therapists, therefore, need valid measures of abdominal muscle strength.
METHODS AND MEASURES: A convenience sample of 17 subjects (7 women, 10 men)
was tested. Using reflective spheres to identify specific body segments,
subjects were videotaped while performing DLL under 2 conditions: attempting
(controlled) prevention of anterior pelvic tilting versus not attempting
(uncontrolled) prevention of anterior pelvic tilting. Videotape was analyzed
using the PEAK 5 2-dimensional system.
RESULTS: The pelvis tilted anteriorly by the time the extremities were
lowered a mean 3.6 degrees, regardless of condition. No significant
difference in anterior pelvic tilting was associated with the 2 DLL
conditions but pelvic tilting did increase significantly as the lower
extremities were lowered from vertical.
CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a natural tendency for the pelvis to tilt
anteriorly from very early in the DLL maneuver. As healthy young subjects do
not appear able to prevent the tilting, the scoring system associated with
the DLL test should be questioned.
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Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/
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