Interdevice Reliability and Validity Assessment of the Nicholas Hand-Held Dynamometer

Abstract

, MS, LPT3 Kara M. long, MS, lP7" Neil B. Meske, MS, lPT5 M easurement of muscle strength is a basic but integral part of the physical assessment of patients. The evaluation of musclk strength is accomplished using a number of methods, ranging from manual muscle testing (MMT) to the use of sophisticated isokinetic dynamometry. Although MMT is the oldest and most commonly used technique to assess muscle strength, it is based on a system of grading movement against the examiner's resistance or resistance provided by gravity. Several studies have been done to examine the reliability of the MMT testing technique and grading system (2,12,15,26). The authors of these studies of MMT conclude that reliable muscle grades are difficult to obtain, particularly for grades greater than fair because these grades require the examiner's subjective judgment concerning the amount of resistance applied during the test (1 2,26). In addition, several studies have shown that experience of the tester in performing MMT techniques can affect the consistency of muscle testing results (7,15). Bohannon and Andrews urge clinicians to seek more objective and precise methods than MMT to evaluate muscle strength in the clinical setting (6). The Nicholas Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD) has been shown to have excellent interday and intraday reliability when using the same HHD. Since clinics may haw more than one HHD with which to evaluate patients, it would be of value to know if two identical HHDs measure the same variable consistently. The purpose of this investigation was to assess interdevice reliability of the Nicholas HHD as well as to determine its validity. Thirty healthy female subjects between the ages of 20 and 56 years (jTage = 28.4) were tested for hamstring strength. Three measurements of maximum hamstring contractions were obtained using the first HHD (Device A). The average of these three measurements was compared with the average of three measurements obtained after a brief rest using a second HHD (Device 6). Measurements from the two

Validity of Isometric Muscle Strength Measurements of the Lower Limbs Using a Hand-held Dynamometer and Belt: a Comparison with an Isokinetic Dynamometer

“…Many previous studies 8, [16][17][18][19][20][21] have reported lower measured values with HHD compared with IKD (Table 3). Measurements of muscle strength of the lower limbs reported in these previous studies were not conducted on healthy male subjects, which could explain why the measured values reported in those studies were lower than the measured values obtained in this study.…”

“…In hip abduction, the correlation coefficient when two subjects with high measurements were excluded was r=0.51. The range of correlation coefficients in previous research 8,[16][17][18][19][20][21] comparing measurements obtained using HHD and IKD is from 0.519 to 0.93 (Table 3). Therefore, we consider the validity of muscle strength measurements of the hips and lower limbs using a HHD and belt fastened to an anchor point, based on the validity of methods using IKD, to be similar to when measurement is made with an HHD fastened to the examiner's hand, except when the measured values for hip adduction using an IKD is 500 N or greater.…”

Preoperative predictors of locomotor ability two months after total knee arthroplasty for severe osteoarthritis

“…The non-operated knee was always evaluated first. This procedure is known to be valid and reliable (63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70). Furthermore, this procedure was shown to have very good to excellent intra-and interrater reliability with ICC Ͼ 0.87 (71).…”

Poor Physical Performance Predicts Future Onset of Depression in Elderly People: Progetto Veneto Anziani Longitudinal Study

“…The reliability of this tool was already shown. 26 The highest value recorded between the two legs for quadriceps strength was used in this analysis. 27 The cutoffs for leg extension were 22.7 and 33.6 kg in men, and 16.4 and 23.5 kg in women;…”