title: Validity and reliability of measurements of elbow flexion strength obtained from older adults using elastic bands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the validity and reliability of measurements of elbow flexion strength obtained from older adults using elastic bands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight community-dwelling older adults with documented functional limitations completed 3 assessments of elbow flexion strength: a 30-second test using elastic bands to generate resistance, a similar test using dumbbells, and a test using an isokinetic dynamometer. One week later, subjects repeated the 30-second elbow flexion test using elastic bands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-second elbow flexion test using elastic bands was significantly correlated with both the 30-second elbow flexion test using dumbbells (r = 0.62, P < 0.01 ) and the maximum isokinetic torque of the elbow flexors (r = 0.46, P < 0.01 ). The 30-second elbow flexion test using elastic bands demonstrated a high degree of test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89, P < 0.01 ).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The validity and reliability elbow flexion strength measured with elastic bands supports its use among functionally limited elders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, 112 Long Field House, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. bmanor1 @lsu.edu
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manor
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topp
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007551:Isotonic Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results