Test-Retest Reliability of Isometric Leg Muscle Strength Measurements Made Using a Hand-Held Dynamometer Restrained by a Belt: Comparisons during and between Sessions

Abstract

Abstract.[Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of isometric muscle strength measurements made using a hand-held dynamometer restrained by a belt.[Subjects] The subjects were 37 healthy adults (18 men and 19 women) with a mean age of 21.9 years.[Methods] Measurements were made on the dominant leg using a hand-held dynamometer (µTas MF-01 or F-1, Anima Corp., Tokyo) and a belt to fix the position of the body part under test. The strengths of the following 10 muscle groups were evaluated: flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors, internal rotators and external rotators of the hip; flexors and extensors of the knee; and dorsiflexors and plantar flexors of the ankle. Each measurement was repeated after at least 30 seconds of rest in three sessions: in the morning, in the afternoon on the same day, and one week later.[Results] The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the first and second sets of measurements made in each session ranged from 0.75 to 0.97. ICC for the highest measurements of each muscle group in each of the three sessions ranged from 0.56 to 0.91.[Conclusions] The test-retest reliability of isometric muscle strength measurements of the lower limb made using a hand-held dynamometer equipped with a stabilizing belt varies widely, depending on the muscle action tested, and it would be better to repeat the measurements on different occasions.

Reliability of Isometric Knee Extension Muscle Strength Measurement Using a Hand-held Dynamometer with a Belt: A Study of Test-retest Reliability in Healthy Elderly Subjects

“…In the test-retest reliability of two measurements at an interval of 30 seconds, an ICC of 0.932 was reported. Katoh et al 5) conducted isometric knee joint extension muscle strength measurements of 37 healthy subjects with an average age of 21.9 years, using the same method as in this research, and reported the test-retest reliability of two measurements at an interval of 30 seconds had an ICC of 0.94-0.96. In the present research, the ICC ranged from 0.85 to 0.92.…”

“…Katoh et al 4,5) have reported achieving higher reliability among the examiners as well as test-retest reliability by using an HHD with a belt for isometric measurement of lower limb (hip, knee, ankle joint) muscle strength, with healthy subjects with an average age of about 20 years. Among the results, the test-retest reliability for knee extension in two measurements with an interval of 30 seconds, was 0.94-0.96.…”

Test-retest Reliability of Isometric Knee Extension Muscle Strength Measurement using a Hand-held Dynamometer and a Belt: Study of Hemiplegic Patients

“…Katoh et al investigated the test-retest reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement using the same measurement method. They found that the ICC of two measurements with an interval of 30 seconds between them was 0.94-0.96 (three sessions) for healthy subjects with an average age of 21.9 years, while for healthy elderly subjects with an average age of 70.5 years it was 0.85-0.92 (with eight gender and age analysis divisions) 12,13) . In this research, isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement using an HHD with a belt is seen to also have high test-retest reliability in hemiplegic patients, in the same way as for healthy subjects.…”

“…Katoh et al also measured in measurement of isometric lower limb muscle strength using a belt and a HHD, and examined the test-retest reliability with young healthy male and female subjects, average age of 21.9. They found a wide range of ICC, from 0.75 to 0.97, in the first and second measurements, but for knee extension a high reliability of 0.94-0.96 was found 12) . Katoh et al also measured isometric knee muscle strength using an HHD in conjunction with a belt, and examined the test-retest reliability with 183 healthy elderly male and female subjects, average age of 70.5 years.…”

The Effects of Manual Resistance Training on Improving Muscle Strength of the Lower Extremities of the Community Dwelling Elderly -A Clinical Intervention Study with A Control Group-

“…Maximal voluntary isometric strength of the right knee extensor was measured using a hand-held dynamometer (μTas-F1; ANIMA Corp, Tokyo, Japan) with an attached band. According to some researchers 24,25) , better accuracy is observed (intra-class correlation coefficient of inter-rater, intra-session and inter-session reliability for the knee extension measurement, 0.98, 0.96 and 0.91 respectively) if examiners use the band-attached sensor of a hand-held dynamometer.…”