The effect of knee flexion angle on knee stiffness values obtained using the Leicester arthrometer

Knee stiffness was measured in 20 patients with a unilateral ACL-deficiency at 0 degrees, 20 degrees and 65 degrees of knee flexion, respectively. The reduction in stiffness when the ACL deficient knee was compared with the n ormal contralateral knee was 46, 39 and 39%. The differences between these values were not statistically significant. The data raise the possibility t hat the angle at which instrumented measurement is made may not be critical provided the deficient knee is compared with the normal knee at the same a ngle. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.