title: Reliability of the Handgrip Strength Test in Elderly Subjects With Parkinson Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The handgrip strength test is widely used by clinicians; however, little has been investigated about its reliability when used in subjects with Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the handgrip strength test for subjects with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PD group consisted of 15 patients, and the control group consisted of 15 healthy subjects. Each patient performed 3 pain-free maximal isometric contractions on each hand on 2 occasions, 1 week apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated. The 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine the differences between sides and groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test-retest reliability of measurements of grip strength was excellent for dominant (ICC = 0.97; P = .001) and non-dominant (ICC = 0.98; P = .001) hand of participant with PD and (ICC = 0.99; P = .001) and (ICC = 0.99; P = .001) respectively, of healthy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Jamar hand dynamometer had fair to excellent test-retest reliability to test grip strength in participants with PD.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buraschi
authors.affiliation: Casa di Cura Domus Salutis, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: Casa di Cura Domus Salutis, Brescia, Italy; LARIN: Laboratory of Neuromuscular Rehabilitation and Adapted Physical Activity, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bissolotti
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy; University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
keywords: Parkinson disease; grip strength; hand; test-retest