The Single Leg Bridge Test does not replace handheld dynamometer hamstring tests in a clinical setting

Objective: To examine the correlation of Single Leg Bridge Test (SLBT) scores with maximum isometric strength values obtained in handheld dynamometer (HHD) hamstring tests performed in a clinical setting. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Physical therapy clinic. Participants: Fifty healthy and physically active men. Main outcome measures: Correlation between SLBT scores and force values found in three HHD hamstring tests: test 'A', volunteer in prone with hip in neutral position and the knee flexed at similar to 90(degrees); test 'B', volunteer in supine with hip and knee flexed at similar to 90(degrees) and test 'C', volunteer in the same position used to perform the SLBT. Results: The volunteers' SLBT score was 27.55 +/- 7.81 repetitions. The SLBT scores were poorly associated with mean (r = 0.246) and peak (r = 0.321) results provided by HHD test 'A'. There were no significant correlations between the SLBT scores and mean or peak values obtained in tests 'B' and 'C' (p > 0.05). Similarly, the SLBT between-limb asymmetry was not associated with asymmetries found in HHD hamstring tests (p > 0.05). Conclusions: HHD hamstring tests should not be replaced by the SLBT. We recommend for clinicians to applying such tests in a complementary way to assess the hamstring's functional status.