Background and purpose : The muscle strength of iliopsoas (IL) was measured commonly in sitting position with hip and knee flexed 90°. However, there is no study to determine the muscle strength of IL in various test positions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of rectus femoris (RF) according to test position and knee flexion angle.

Methods : Twenty healthy subjects were participated for this study. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF were measured by hand-held dynamometer and surface electromyography during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of IL, respectively. The muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF was measured in 4 conditions as follows; 1) knee flexion angles 90° in supine 2) 130° in supine position 3) 90° in sitting 4) 130° in sitting. Each condition were performed randomly by three repetitions. The MVIC were collected to normalize the muscle activity of RF. Two-way repeated ANOVA was used to determine the significant differences in muscle strength of IL and muscle activity of RF according to test position and knee flexion angle.

Results : The muscle strength of the IL was the main effect on the test position and knee flexion angle(p<.05), and the muscle activity of RF was the main effect only on the knee flexion angle(p<.05). There was also no interaction between the factors(p>.05). In supine position, the muscle strength of IL in knee flexion 130° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90° (p<.013). In knee flexion 90°, the muscle strength of IL in supine position was significantly greater than that in sitting position (p<.013). The muscle activity of RF in knee flexion 130° was significantly less than that in knee flexion 90° in supine and sitting positions (p<.013).

Conclusion : When the muscle strength of IL was measured in clinic and sports fields, the supine position with knee flexion 130° was recommended to prevent the muscle activation of RF and to maintain the trunk stability.