Break-technique handheld dynamometry: relation between angular velocity and strength measurements.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the muscle strength, as measured with break-technique handheld dynamometry (HHD), is dependent on the angular velocity achieved during testing and to compare reliability at different angular velocities.

DESIGN

Repeated-measures study. Participants underwent HHD by using make-technique (isometric) and break-technique (eccentric) dynamometry at 3 prespecified angular velocities. Elbow movement was recorded with an electrogoniometer.

SETTING

Inpatient spinal cord injury unit.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sample of 20 persons with tetraplegia with weakness of elbow flexors or extensors.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Elbow angular velocity and muscle strength recorded during HHD.

RESULTS

With the break technique, angular velocities averaging 15 degrees , 33 degrees , and 55 degrees /s produced 16%, 30%, and 51% greater strength measurements, respectively, than velocities recorded by using the make technique (all P < .006 for comparisons between successive techniques). The intraclass correlation coefficient for intrarater reliability was .89 or greater for all testing techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater strength is recorded with faster angular velocities during HHD. Differences in angular velocity may explain the wide range previously reported for break- versus make-technique strength measurements. Variation in angular velocity is a potential source of variability in serial HHD strength measurements, and for this reason the make technique may be preferable.