Concurrent Validity of Lower Limb Muscle Strength by Handheld Dynamometry in Children 7 to 11 Years Old

Mahaffey, Ryan, Le Warne, Megan, Morrison, Stewart C, Drechsler, Wendy I and Theis, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-0775-1355 (2022) Concurrent Validity of Lower Limb Muscle Strength by Handheld Dynamometry in Children 7 to 11 Years Old. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 31 (8). pp. 1089-1094. doi:10.1123/jsr.2021-0273

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Abstract

Context: The assessment of pediatric muscle strength is necessary in a range of applications, including rehabilitation programs. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) is considered easy to use, portable, and low cost, but validity to measure lower limb muscle strength in children has not been assessed. Objective: To determine the concurrent validity of lower limb torque from HHD compared with isokinetic dynamometry (ID) in children aged from 7 to 11 years old. Design: A descriptive assessment of concurrent validity of lower limb joint torques from HHD compared with ID. Methods: Sixty-one typically developing children underwent assessment of maximal hip, knee, and ankle isometric torque by HHD and ID using standardized protocols. Joint positions were selected to represent maximal strength and were replicated between devices. Concurrent validity was determined by Pearson correlation, limits of agreement, and Bland–Altman plots. Results: Correlations between HHD and ID were moderate to large for knee extension (r 95% CI, .39 to .73), small to large for plantar flexion (r 95% CI, .29 to .67), knee flexion (r 95% CI, .16 to .59), hip flexion (r 95% CI, .21 to .57), hip extension (r 95% CI, .18 to .54), and hip adduction (r 95% CI, .12 to .56), and small to moderate for dorsiflexion (r 95% CI, −.11 to .39) and hip abduction (r 95% CI, −.02 to .46). Limits of agreement for all joint torques were greater than 10% indicating large error in HHD measured torque compared with ID. A positive proportional bias was detected for plantarflexion, indicating that HHD underestimated torque to a greater extent in participants with higher torque values. Conclusions: Maximal torque values from HHD and ID are consistent with those previously reported in the literature. Poor concurrent validity of HHD may have arisen from issues around joint position, joint stabilization, and the experience of the tester to prevent an isokinetic contraction. Pediatric lower limb muscle strength assessed by HHD should be interpreted with caution.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Joint torque; Isometric; Isokinetic dynamometry; Pediatric
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports Q Science > QP Physiology > QP301.H75 Physiology. Sport R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ125 Physiology of children and adolescents
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anna Kerr
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2022 11:00
Last Modified:	31 Aug 2023 09:06
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/11498

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