Tests of muscle strength and physical function: reliability and discrimination of performance in younger and older men and older men with mobility limitations.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the reliability of muscle strength and physical function measures in younger and older men.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Academic research center.


METHODS
Thirty younger men, 31 older men, and 39 older men with mobility limitations.


METHODS
Test-retest measures of one repetition maximum (1 RM), unloaded and loaded 50-m walk and stair climb, and a lift-and-lower task. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis and the Bland-Altman method.


RESULTS
Leg and chest press 1 RM measures identified significant differences between the groups, exhibited excellent test-retest reliability in younger men, older men, and older men with mobility limitations (ICCs=0.946-0.994) and minimal bias between Trials 1 and 2 (Bland-Altman=improvement of 21.1 and 1.1 N for leg and chest press, respectively). Test-retest measures of the time to walk 50 m and climb 12 steps also demonstrated excellent agreement (ICCs=0.980-0.988 and 0.942-992, respectively) and minimal bias (Bland-Altman=0.755-1.007 and 0.141-0.361 seconds faster, respectively). When a subject repeated these measures carrying a modest load, ICCs remained greater than 0.940, bias was similar, and the tests better discriminated between the groups. The lift-and-lower measure demonstrated excellent agreement (ICCs=0.925-0.947) and minimal bias (1.4-2.9 more shelves) and revealed significant differences between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Measures of muscle strength and physical function can be performed in younger men, older men, and older men with mobility limitations with high reliability. In future clinical trials, more-challenging measures of performance may better discriminate between higher-functioning study participants.
LeBrasseur
Nathan K
NK
Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. nathan.lebrasseur@pfizer.com
Bhasin
Shalender
S
Miciek
Renee
R
Storer
Thomas W
TW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D015203:Reproducibility of Results