New Methods to Assess Forearm Torque and Lifting Strength: Reliability and Validity

• Purpose To determine the repeatability and validity of new methods designed to objectively measure forearm torque and lifting strength in a clinical setting. Methods Twenty-eight healthy volunteers, 19 women and 9 men, were tested for lifting strength and forearm torque with the Kern and Baseline dynamometers. Two raters tested each participant on 3 occasions in the standing position. One of the raters also examined 15 subjects, 3 times, for forearm torque in the seated position and for lifting strength and forearm torque by the Work Simulator II, Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment (BTE II). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) model 2,1 was used to calculate ICCs for intra- and intenater reliability. The same ICC model and Bland-Altman plots were used to analyze the validity and agreement between the new test methods and the BTE II equipment and for comparison between tests performed in the standing and seated positions. Results Intra- and interrater reliability for forearm torque measurements with both the Baseline and the BTE II demonstrated ICCs between 0.88 and 0.96. The comparison between the Baseline and the BTE equipment yielded lower ICCs of 0.74 to 0.88 but they were still substantial and in good agreement. The ICCs for torques recorded in the standing and seated position were 0.89 to 0.96. Lifting strength, measured in 3 different positions of forearm rotation, yielded ICC values between 0.84 and 0.96 for both raters and with both the Kern and the BTE II instruments. Similarly, comparisons between the Kern and the BTE II methods showed ICC values between 0.91 and 0.95. Conclusions Both the Baseline and the Kern dynamometers demonstrated excellent intra- and interrater repeatability. Except for forearm torque test in direction of pronation, which had a slightly lower ICC of 0.74, our new methods were valid when the BTE II was used as the reference standard. Assessments in the standing or seated position for torque measurements made little difference. Thus, we found the quality of measurements performed with our new methods sufficient for future studies of forearm torque and lifting strength. Copyright (C) 2018 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

DRUJ

forearm torque

lifting strength

reliability

validity

distal radioulnar joint

muscle strength

grip strength

supination

fractures

pronation

adults

fixation

hand

Orthopedics

Surgery

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