New Assessment of Forearm Strength: Reliability and Validity

Abstract

KEY WORDSforearm muscle strength dynamometer reproducibility of results OBJECTIVE. The objective was to determine the reliability of a portable forearm strength hydraulic dynamometer with a doorknob handle and assess its validity compared with a Cybex 6000 (Cybex International, Inc., Medway, MA) isometric torque assessment.METHOD. Eighteen volunteers (with a total of 30 forearms) participated in this one-session methodological study to determine the intra-and interrater reliability and criterion validity of a forearm dynamometer. CONCLUSION. The Baseline hydraulic dynamometer with a more functional doorknob handle had good intraand interrater reliability and demonstrated moderate validity compared with Cybex 6000 strength testing. RESULTS.

The effect of a Galeazzi fracture on the strength of pronation and supination two years after surgical treatment

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess patients with a Galeazzi fracture in this way. [8][9][10][11][15][16][17][18][19][20] We found persisting changes at a mean of two years after surgical treatment. The mean absolute loss of strength of supination of the injured compared with the non-injured arm throughout all positions of rotation of the forearm was 16.1 kg (SEM 5.3), corresponding to a relative loss of 12.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6 to 21.4) and the mean loss of the strength of pronation was 19.1 kg (SEM 4.5), corresponding to 27.2% (95% CI 14.2 to 40.1).…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11] Some residual disability might also be revealed by measuring strength in different positions of rotation of the forearm.…”

Does access through the pronator quadratus influence pronation strength in palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures in elderly patients?

“…Normalisation to the opposite side eliminates any bias due to interindividual as well as gender differences in range of motion or strength and makes individual patients comparable to each other. The Baseline Hydraulic Dynamometer (Fabrication Enterprises, USA) used in this study had been compared to a gold standard for measuring pronation strength, the Cybex 6000 dynamometer, and was found to represent a reliable and valid tool for measuring pronation strength when used with a doorknob or handle, as in the study presented here [16].…”

“…The gold standard of strength measurement is represented by work simulators and isokinetic rehabilitation and measurement devices, such as the Cybex 6000 [16]. However, these devices are large and cost-intensive, so a handy and easy-to-use device had to be found without sacrificing accurate and reliable measurement results.…”

“…A holder with a support plate for the arm to be measured was made especially for the Baseline Wrist Dynamometer at our hospital. We used the holder presented by Wong et al as a basis [16]. The holder is intended to prevent positional changes, such as the unconscious lifting of the arm, which would lead to the activation of other muscles responsible for pronation.…”