Hand-held dynamometry: A practicable alternative for obtaining objective measures of muscle strength

Isokinetics and Exercise Science

Volumn 20, Issue 4, 2012, Pages 301-315

  Bohannon, Richard W ^a,b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT   (United States)

^b Physical Therapy Consultants   (United States)

Author keywords

dynamometry; measurement; Muscle

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; DYNAMOMETRY; HAND HELD DYNAMOMETRY; HUMAN; INTERNAL CONSISTENCY; INTERRATER RELIABILITY; JOINT MOBILITY; MUSCLE CONTRACTION; MUSCLE STRENGTH; TEST RETEST RELIABILITY; VALIDITY;

EID: 84872257533     PISSN: 09593020     EISSN: 18785913     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3233/IES-2012-0476     Document Type: Article

References (78)

1. J.C. Agre, J.L. Magness, S.Z. Hull, K.C. Wright, T.L. Baxter, R. Patterson and L. Stradel, Strength testing with a portable dynamometer: reliability for upper and lower extremities, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 68 (1987), 454-458.
2. S. Aksu and Y. Yakut, Test-retest reliability of hand-held dynamometer and manual muscle strength measurements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Fizoterapi Rehabilitasyon 14 (2003), 66-71.
3. A.W.Andrews, M.W. Thomas andR.W.Bohannon, Normative values for isometric muscle force measurements obtained with hand-held dynamometers, Physical Therapy 76 (1996), 248- 259.
4. C.M. Arnold, K.D. Warkentin, P.D. Chilibeck and R.A. Magnus, The reliability and validity of handheld dynamometry for measurement of lower-extremity muscle strength in older adults, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 24 (2010), 815-824.
5. J.A. Balogun, R. Powell, B. Trullender, S. Olson and A.O. Balogun, Intra-and inter-tester reliability of the Nicholas hand-held dynamometer during evaluation of upper extremity isometric muscle strength, European Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 8 (1998), 48-53.
6. S. Bandinelli, E. Benvenuti E, I. Del Lungo, M. Baccini, F. Benvenuti, A. Di Iorio and L. Ferrucci, Measuring muscular strengthof the lower limbs by hand-held dynamometer: A standard protocol, Aging, Clinical and Experimental Research 11 (1999), 287-293.
7. W.C. Beasley, Influence of method on estimates of normal knee extensor force among normal and post-polio children, Physical Therapy Review 36 (1956), 21-41.
8. M. Beck, R. Giess, W.W?urffel, T. Magnus, G. Ochs and K.V. Toyka, Comparison of maximal voluntary isometric contraction and Drachman's hand-held dynamometry in evaluating patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Muscle Nerve 22 (1999), 1265-1270.
9. R.W. Bohannon, Adoption of hand-held dynamometry, Perceptual and Motor Skills 92 (2001), 150.
10. R.W. Bohannon, Hand-held compared with isokinetic dynamometry for measurement of static knee extension torque (parallel reliability of dynamometers), Clinical Physics and Physiological Measurement 11 (1990), 217-222.
11. R.W. Bohannon, Hand-held dynamometer measurements obtained in a home environment are reliable but not correlated strongly with function, International Journal of Rehabilitation Research 19 (1996), 345-347.
12. R.W. Bohannon, Intercorrelations and internal consistency of limb-muscle action strengths of patients with renal disease, Perceptual and Motor Skills 81 (1998), 1249-1250.
13. R. Bohannon, Interday stability and validity of hand-held dynamometer measurements obtained at bedside, Journal of Physical Therapy Science 5 (1993), 61-66.
14. R.W. Bohannon, Knee extension torque in stroke patients: comparison of measurements obtained with a hand-held and a Cybex dynamometer, Physiotherapy Canada 42 (1990), 284- 287.
15. R.W. Bohannon, Literature reporting normative data for muscle strength measured by hand-held dynamometry: A systematic review, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 19 (2011), 143-147.
16. R.W. Bohannon, Make versus break tests of elbow flexor force using a hand-held dynamometer, Physical Therapy 68 (1988), 193-194.
17. R.W. Bohannon, Make versus break tests for measuring elbow flexor muscle force with a hand-held dynamometer in patients with stroke, Physiotherapy Canada 42 (1990), 247-251.
18. R.W. Bohannon, Manual muscle testing: does it meet the standards of an adequate screening test? Clinical Rehabilitation 19 (2005), 662-667.
19. R.W. Bohannon, Reference values for extremity muscle strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from adults aged 20 to 79 years, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 78 (1997), 26-32.
20. R.W. Bohannon, Responsiveness of measurements of knee extension force obtained by hand-held dynamometry: A preliminary analysis, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 17 (2009), 169-172.
21. R.W Bohannon and A.W. Andrews, Accuracy of spring and straingauge hand-held dynamometers, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 10 (1989), 323-325.
22. R.W. Bohannon and A.W. Andrews, Limb muscle strength is impaired bilaterally after stroke, Journal of Physical Therapy Science 7 (1995), 1-7.
23. R.W. Bohannon and A.W. Andrews, Relationships between impairments in strength of limb muscle actions following stroke, Perceptual and Motor Skills 87 (1998), 1327-1330.
24. R.W. Bohannon, A.W. Andrews and S.S. Glenney, Responsiveness of measurements of lower-limb muscle strength obtained with a hand-held dynamometer from patients with stroke, Isokinetics and Exercise Science (in review).
25. R.W. Bohannon, D.J. Bubela, S.R. Magasi and R.C. Gershon, Relative reliability of three objective tests of limb muscle strength, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 19 (2011), 77-81.
26. R.W. Bohannon, D.J. Bubela, Y.-C. Wang, S.R. Magasi and R.C. Gershon. Adequacy of belt-stabilized testing of knee extension strength, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 25 (2011), 1963-1967.
27. R.W. Bohannon and N. Endemann, Magnitude and reliability of hand-held dynamometer measurements within and between days, Physiotherapy Practice 5 (1989), 177-181.
28. R.W. Bohannon, G. Sabo, J. Kindig, A. Duni and P. Cram, Knee extension force measured using a hand-held dynamometer with and without belt-stabilization, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 28 (2012) in press.
29. R.W. Bohannon, J. Vigneault and J. Rizzo, Hip external and internal rotation strength: Consistency over time and between sides, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 16 (2008), 107-111.
30. R.W. Bohannon and J.B.Wikholm, Measurements of knee extension force obtained by two examiners of substantially different experience with a hand-held dynamometer, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 2 (1992), 5-8.
31. J.R. Brinkmann, Comparison of hand-held and fixed dynamometer in measuring strength of patients with neuromuscular disease, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 19 (1994), 100-104.
32. D. Cameron and R.W. Bohannon, Criterion validity of lower extremity Motricity Index scores, Clinical Rehabilitation 14 (2000), 208-211.
33. J. Crompton, M.P. Galea and B. Phillips, Hand-held dynamometry for muscle strength measurement in children with cerebral palsy, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 49 (2007), 106-111.
34. M.N. Eek, A.-K. Kroksmark and E. Beckung, Isometric muscle torque in children 5-15 years of age: Normative data, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 87 (2006), 1091-1099.
35. C.G. Gajdosik, Ability of very young children to produce reliable isometric force measurements, Pediatric Physical Therapy 17 (2005), 251-257.
36. K. Hayes, J.R. Walton, Z.L. Szomor and G.A.C. Murrell, Reliability of 3 methods for assessing shoulder strength, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 11 (2002), 33-39.
37. L.J. H'ebert, D.B. Maltais, C. Lepage, J. Saulnier, M. Cr̂ete andM. Perron, Isometric muscle strength in youth assessed by hand-held dynamometry: a feasibility, reliability, and validity study, Pediatric Physical Therapy 23 (2011), 289-299.
38. M. Hills and R.W. Bohannon, Shoulder extension strength is influenced by elbow position, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 2 (1992), 129-132.
39. M. Katoh, K. Isozaki, N. Sakanoue and T. Miyahara, Reliability of isometric knee extension muscle strength measurement using a hand-held dynamometer and a belt: Study of hemiplegic patients, Journal of Physical Therapy Science 23 (2011), 25-28.
40. M. Katoh and H. Yamasaki, Comparison of reliability of isometric leg muscle strength measurements made using a handheld dynamometer with and without a restraining belt, Journal of Physical Therapy Science 21 (2009), 37-42.
41. B.M. Kelln, P.O.McKeon, L.M. Gontkof and J. Hertel, Handheld dynamometry: Reliability of lower extremity muscle testing in healthy, physically active, young adults, Journal of Sports Rehabilitation 17 (2008), 160-170.
42. D.D. Kilmer, M.A. McCrory, N.C. Wright, R.A. Rosko, HR. Kim and S.G. Aitkens. Hand-held dynamometry reliability in persons with neuropathic weakness, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 78 (1997), 1364-1368.
43. I.F. Kimura, L.M. Jefferson, D.T. Gulick and R.D. Coll, Intraand intertester reliability of Chatillon and MicroFet handheld dynamometers in measuring force production, Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 5 (1996), 197-205.
44. C. Knepler and R.W. Bohannon, Subjectivity of forces associated with manual muscle test scores of 3+, 4, and 4, Perceptual and Motor Skills 87 (1998), 1123-1128.
45. R.H. Knols, G. Aufdemkampe, E.D. de Bruin, D. Uebelhart and N.K. Aaronson, Hand-held dynamometry in patients with haematological malignancies: Measurement error in the clinical assessment of knee extension strength, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 10 (2009), 31.
46. I.F.H. Koblbauer, Y. Lambrecht, M.L.M. van der Hulst, C. Neeter, R.H.H. Engelbert, R.W. Poolman and V.A. Scholtes, Reliability of maximal isometric knee strength testing with modified hand-held dynamometry in patients awaiting total knee arthroplasty: useful in research and individual patient settings? A reliability study, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 12 (2011), 249.
47. J. Kramer, Z. Agnidis, R. Bourne and C. Rorabeck, Reliability of knee extensor and flexor strength measurements after total knee replacement, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 2 (1992), 76-81.
48. J.F. Kramer, M.D. Vaz and A.A. Vandervoort, Reliability of isometric hip abductor torques during examiner- and beltresisted tests, Journal of Gerontology 46 (1991), M47-M51.
49. C.K. Kwoh, M.A. Petrick and M.C. Munin, Inter-rater reliability for function and strength measurements in the acute care hospital after elective hip and knee arthroplasty, Arthritis Care and Research 10 (1997), 128-134.
50. B.A. Laing, F.L. Mastaglia, S.K. Lo and P. Zilko, Comparative assessment of knee strength using hand-held myometry and isometric dynamometry in patients with inflammatory myopathy, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 11 (1995), 151-156.
51. B.O. Leggin, R.M. Neuman, J.P. Iannotti, G.R. Williams and E.C. Thompson, Intrarater and interrater reliability of three isometric dynamometers in assessing shoulder strength, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 5 (1996), 18-24.
52. Y.-M. Lu, J.-H. Lin, S.-F. Hsiao, M.-F. Liu, S.-M. Chen and Y.-J. Lue, The relative and absolute reliability of leg muscle strength testing by a handheld dynamometer, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 25 (2011), 1065-1071.
53. H.J. Martin, V. Yule, H.E. Syddall, E.M. Dennison, C. Cooper andA.A. Sayer, Is hand-held dynamometry useful for themeasurement of quadriceps strength in older people? A comparison with the gold standard Biodex dynamometry, Gerontology 52 (2006), 154-159.
54. S.L. Morris, K.J. Dodd and M.E. Morris, Reliability of dynamometry to quantify isometric strength following traumatic brain injury, Brain Injury 22 (2008), 1030-1037.
55. S.D. O'Shea, N.F. Taylor and J.D. Paratz, Measuring muscle strength for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 88 (2007), 32-36.
56. B.A. Phillips, S.K. Lo and F.L. Mastaglia, Muscle force measured using "break" testing with a hand-held myometer in normal subjects aged 20-69 years, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 81 (2000), 653-661.
57. J. Richardson, P. Stratford and D. Cripps, Assessment of reliability of the hand-held dynamometer for measuring strength in healthy older adults, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 14 (1998), 49-54.
58. J. Richardson, P. Stratford, V. DePaul, K.Chisholm and B. Balsor, A multirater reliability study of isometric elbow strength in healthy adults, Physiotherapy Canada 49 (1997), 178-183, 190.
59. D.L. Riddle, S.D. Finucane, J.M. Rothstein and M.L. Walker, Intrasession and intersession reliability of hand-held dynamometer measurements taken on brain-damaged patients, Physical Therapy 69 (1989), 182-194.
60. J-S. Roy, J.C. MacDermid, B. Orton, T.Tran, K.J. Faber, D. Drosdowech and G.S. Athwal, The concurrent validity of a hand-held versus a stationary dynamometer in testing isometric shoulder strength, Journal of Hand Therapy 22 (2009), 320-326.
61. M.A.G. Roy and T.J. Doherty, Reliability of hand-held dynamometry in assessment of knee extensor strength after hip fracture, American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 83 (2004), 813-818.
62. K.L. Schaubert and R.W.Bohannon, Reliability and validity of three strength measures obtained from community-dwelling elderly persons, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 19 (2005), 717-720.
63. C. Sherrington and S.R. Lord, Reliability of simple portable tests of physical performance in older people after hip fracture, Clinical Rehabilitation 19 (2005), 496-504.
64. M.P.M. Steultjens, J. Dekker, M.E. Van Baar, R.A.B. Oostendorp and J.W.J. Bijlsma, Muscle strength, pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis, Clinical Rehabilitation 15 (2001), 331-341.
65. K.A. Stockton, T.V.Wrigley, K.A. Mengersen, D.A. Kandiah, J.D. Paratz and K.L. Bennell, Test-retest reliability of handheld dynamometry and functional tests in systemic lupus erythematosus, Lupus 20 (2011), 144-150.
66. C.A. Stone, B. Nolan, P.G. Lawlor and R.A. Kenny, Handheld dynamometry: tester strength is paramount, even in frail populations, Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 43 (2011), 808-811.
67. G. Stucki, J. Sch?onb?achler, P. Br?uhlmann, S. Mariacher, T. Stoll and B.A. Michel, Does a strength index provide complimentary information to traditional disease activity variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Journal of Rheumatology 21 (1994), 2200-2205.
68. S.J. Sullivan, A. Chesley, G. Hebert, S. McFaull and D. Scullion, The validity and reliability of hand-held dynamometry in assessing isometric external rotator performance, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 10 (1988), 213-217.
69. K. Thorborg, T. Bandholm, M. Schick, J. Jensen and P. H?olmich, Hip strength assessment using handheld dynamometry is subject to intertester bias when testers are of different sex and strength, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 22 (2012), in press.
70. K. Thorborg, J. Petersen, S.P. Magnusson and P. H?olmich, Clinical assessment of hip strength using a hand-held dynamometer is reliable, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 20 (2010), 493-501.
71. H. Van Aswegen, C.J. Eales and G.A. Richards. Establishing the reliability of test procedures in order to investigate the effect of penetrating trunk trauma and prolonged mechanical ventilation on recovery of adult survivors, South African Journal of Physiotherapy 63 (2007), 22-27.
72. R.J.O. van der Ploeg, V. Fidler and H.J.G.H.Oosterhuis, Handheld myometry: reference values, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 54 (1991), 244-247.
73. G. Vanpee, J. Seegers, H. Van Mechelen, P. Wouters, G. Van den Berghe, G. Hermans and R. Gosselink, The interobserver agreement of hand-held dynamometry for muscle strength assessment in critically ill patients, Critical Care Medicine 39 (2011), 1929-1934.
74. O. Verschuren,M. Ketelaar, T. Takken,M. Van Brussel, P.J.M. Helders and J.W. Gorter, Reliability of hand-held dynamometry and functional strength tests for the lower extremity in children with cerebral palsy, Disability and Rehabilitation 30 (2008), 1358-1366.
75. Y-C. Wang, R.W. Bohannon, S.R. Magasi, B. Hrynkiewicz, A. Morales, R.C. Gershon and Z. Rymer, Testing of knee extension muscle strength: A comparison of two portable alternatives for the NIH toolbox study, Isokinetics and Exercise Science 19 (2011), 163-168.
76. J.Wessel, C. Kaup, J. Fan, R. Ehalt, J. Ellsworth, C. Speeer, P. Tenove and A. Dombrosky, Isometric strength measurements in children with arthritis: reliability and relation to function, Arthritis Care and Research 12 (1999), 238-246.
77. J.B. Wikholm and R.W. Bohannon, Hand-held dynamometer measurements: tester strength makes a difference, Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy 13 (1991), 191-198.
78. D.A. Winter, R.P. Wells and G.W. Orr. Errors in the use of isokinetic dynamometers, European Journal of Applied Physiology 46 (1981), 397-408.