In general, the MST showed adequate criterion-related validity, test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities for the assessment of strength of the lower limb and trunk muscles in subjects with chronic stroke. For the majority of the assessed muscles, only one trial, after familiarization, provided adequate strength values.

Introduction Clinical measurements of strength in stroke subjects are usually performed and portable dynamometers are one of the most employed instruments. Objective To verify the standardization procedures of the methods used to assess the strength of the trunk and upper limb muscles with portable dynamometers in stroke subjects, as well as to assess the psychometric properties which were already investigated. Materials and methods An extensive search was performed on the MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and PEDro databases, by combining specific key words, followed by active manual searches by two independent researchers. Results and discussion Fifty-eight studies were included: three related to the trunk and 55 to the upper limb muscles, including handgrip and pinch strength assessments. The most investigated muscular groups were handgrip, elbow flexors/extensors, wrist extensors, and lateral pinch. Nine studies reported adequate reliability levels and the seated position was employed in the majority of the studies which assessed trunk, handgrip, and pinch strength, while the supine position was used for the other muscular groups. The number of trials most used was three, while the reported contractions and rest times were variable. Final considerations Most studies reported the positioning and/or the data collection protocols; however, there was no consensus on the standardization procedures. The only investigated psychometric property was reliability. Few studies evaluated the trunk muscles and other psychometric properties.

Introduction: Weakness of the lower limb muscles, which are the main impairments after stroke, is associated with reduced mobility and decreased performance in functional tasks. Therefore, the assessment of strength of these muscles is necessary, which is commonly assessed with portable dynamometry. Aims: To perform a literature review regarding the methods used to assess lower limb strength with portable dynamometry in subjects with stroke and to describe its investigated measurement properties with this population. Materials and Methods: An extensive search was performed on the MEDLINE, SCIELO, LILACS, and PEDro databases, by combining specific key words, followed by active manual search by two independent researchers. Results and Discussion: Thirty studies were included, and the muscular groups of the knee (90%) were the most assessed, followed by the ankle (66.7%) and hip (63.3%) joints. In 5% of the studies, there were not reported any descriptions related to the positioning of the subjects and the equipment, neither regarding the stabilization procedures. Only 50% provided information regarding the number of trials and only 46.7% regarding the contraction times, being three trials and 5s the most commonly applied. Only 10% provided feedback and 23.3% demonstrations, prior to data collection. Only seven studies (23.3%) investigated the measurement properties of portable dynamometry and reported moderate to high reliability levels. Final Considerations: The protocols used for the assessment of the strength of the lower limb muscles with portable dynamometry in subjects with stroke were not standardized. Moreover, only one measurement property was investigated: the reliability, which was considered adequate.

The MST showed adequate measurement properties for the assessment of the strength of the upper limb muscles of subjects with chronic stroke. After familiarization a single trial provided adequate strength values.

INTRODUÇÃO: O Teste do esfigmomanômetro modificado (TEM) tem potencial de ampla aplicação clínica para mensuração da força muscular. OBJETIVO: Realizar uma ampla revisão da literatura para descrever como o TEM vem sendo utilizado para avaliação da força muscular, bem como suas propriedades de medida. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados MEDLINE/LILACS/SciELO/PEDro com combinação de termos específicos, sem restrições quanto ao idioma e publicados até novembro/2011, seguida de busca manual ativa. Todos os estudos encontrados foram analisados por dois examinadores independentes. RESULTADOS: Dos 24 estudos incluídos, 11 investigaram alguma propriedade psicométrica (validade de critério concorrente e confiabilidade) e reportaram resultados adequados. O TEM já foi utilizado para avaliação da força muscular de crianças, adultos e idosos, saudáveis ou acometidos por alguma condição de saúde; doenças reumáticas e dor lombar foram as mais comuns. Já foi utilizado para avaliação dos músculos do tronco e membros; os membros superiores foram os mais avaliados (79,16%), principalmente os preensores palmares. Todos realizaram adaptação no esfigmomanômetro, a maioria utilizou contração muscular por 5 segundos, pré-insuflação do equipamento de 20 mmHg e não foi reportado o tempo de repouso nem o número de repetições. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: Apesar de apresentar adequadas propriedades de medida e ampla aplicabilidade clínica, o TEM ainda é pouco utilizado para avaliação da força muscular e não foi empregado em estudos com indivíduos em que este desfecho é comumente avaliado. A falta de padronização e/ou descrição dos procedimentos adotados dificulta a replicação dos métodos para utilização do TEM na prática clínica.