An examination of the selective tissue tension scheme, with evidence for the concept of a capsular pattern of the knee.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is evidence to support 2 elements of the passive-range-of-motion (PROM) portion of Cyriax's selective tissue tension scheme for patients with knee dysfunction: a capsular pattern of motion restriction and the pain-resistance sequence.

SUBJECTS

One hundred fifty-two subjects with unilateral knee dysfunction participated. The subjects had a mean age of 40.0 years (SD=15.9, range=13-82).

METHODS

Passive range of motion of the knee and the relationship between the onset of pain and resistance to PROM (pain-resistance sequence) were measured, and 4 tests for inflammation were used. Interrater reliability was assessed on 35 subjects.

RESULTS

Kappa values for the individual inflammatory tests ranged from .21 to .66 for categorization of the joint as inflamed, based on at least 2 positive inflammatory tests (kappa=.76). Reliability of PROM measurements was indicated by intraclass correlation coefficients of .72 to .97. Reliability of measurements of the pain-resistance sequence was indicated by a weighted kappa of .28. A capsular pattern, defined as a ratio of loss of extension to loss of flexion during PROM of between 0.03 and 0.50, was more likely than a noncapsular pattern in patients with an inflamed knee or osteoarthrosis (likelihood ratio=3.2). An association was found between a capsular pattern and arthrosis or arthritis.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

These findings provide evidence to support the concept of a capsular pattern of motion restriction in persons with inflamed knees or evidence of osteoarthrosis.