Validity and reliability of measurements of elbow flexion strength obtained from older adults using elastic bands.
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.
Manor
Brad
B
Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, 112 Long Field House, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. bmanor1 @lsu.edu
Topp
Robert
R
Page
Phil
P
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