Comparison of hand dynamometers in elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
Some dynamometers previously tested in healthy adults showed variable degrees of practicality, weight and ergonomics. More practical models could also be used as a more suitable tool in gerontological field and clinical studies. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of the measurements and the performance of hand grip strength dynamometers in the elderly.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A retirement home and a social day care centre for old people in Porto, Portugal.


METHODS
The accuracy of four static grip strength dynamometers (Smedlay's Hand, Sammons Preston Rolyan Bulb, Eisenhut and the Jamar Hydraulic Hand) was first tested in laboratory. The grip strength of fifty-five elderly individuals 65-99 years was measured with the four dynamometers and the Jamar Hydraulic Hand which was used as the comparison dynamometer.


RESULTS
The accuracy of the four dynamometers measurements compared to known forces was excellent (r > 0.96). A strong association between the measurements obtained by the Jamar Hydraulic and the other instruments evaluated was found (r > 0.77) but significant differences between the mean hand grip strength values evaluated with the Jamar Hydraulic and each one of the other dynamometers were found. The Bland and Altman plots confirmed that none of the three dynamometers reflects a good agreement with the Jamar Hydraulic.


CONCLUSIONS
All four dynamometers showed excellent results regarding their laboratory tested accuracy. However, their application among elderly people rendered very different results. The Smedlay's results were closer to the Jamar Hydraulic, though none of these three dynamometers produced comparable results to the Jamar Hydraulic.
Guerra
R S
RS
Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
Amaral
T F
TF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity