title: Standards for judgments of unilateral impairments in muscle strength.
abstract: A secondary analysis of a data base of isometric strength measures from 136 asymptomatic adults (50-79 years) was conducted to estimate the normal difference between dominant and nondominant side strengths. Measures of strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from 13 muscle actions were expressed as a ratio, dominant side strength:nondominant side strength. The ratios indicated that the dominant side was stronger on average but that the normal range of differences between sides could reach 23.2 to 40.2%, depending on the action. The findings do not provide much support for the convention of using a 10% difference in strength between sides to designate impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Connecticut, Hartford Hospital, Storrs 06269, USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bohannon
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*