Dynamometer measurements of grip and knee extension strength: are they indicative of overall limb and trunk muscle strength?
Single dynamometric measures are sometimes used to characterize overall muscle strength. This study examined the legitimacy of that practice by assessing how dynamometer measures of grip and knee extension strength related to manual muscle-test grades of each upper and lower limb and of the trunk. Based on correlations and principal component analysis, grip dynamometry can be used to characterize upper limb strength but not lower limb strength; knee extension dynamometry can be used to characterize lower limb and trunk strength.
Bohannon
Richard W
RW
University of Connecticut, Neag School of Education, Department of Physical Therapy, 358 Mansfield Road, Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA. richard.bohannon@uconn.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000379:methods