Hand-held dynamometry: reliability of lower extremity muscle testing in healthy, physically active,young adults.
BACKGROUND
Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) has been shown to be a reliable, objective way to obtain strength measurements in elderly and physically impaired subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the intratester, intertester, and intersession reliability of HHD testing of lower extremity movements in young, healthy subjects.


METHODS
Repeated measures.


METHODS
Sports medicine laboratory.


METHODS
Nine males and eleven females (Mean age = 26 years).


METHODS
Strength measures of 11 right lower extremity movements were taken by 3 different testers on 2 separate days using a HHD.


RESULTS
Intratester ICC range was .77 to .97 with SEM range of .01 to .44 kg. Mean intertester ICC range was .65 to .87 with SEM range of .11 to 1.05 kg. Mean intersession ICC range was .62 to .92 with SEM range of .01 to .83 kg.


CONCLUSIONS
HHD has the potential to be a reliable tool for strength measurements in healthy, strong subjects; however, there are noteworthy limitations with movements where subjects can overpower the testers.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA. bkelln@hawaii.rr.com
Brent M
BM
Kelln
Patrick O
PO
McKeon
Lauren M
LM
Gontkof
Jay
J
Hertel
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results