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Hand-held dynamometry in children with traumatic brain injury: within-session reliability.
Michal Katz-Leurer1, Hemda Rottem, Shirley Meyer
1Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, Alyn Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. michalkz@post.tau.ac.il
Summary
A standardized protocol using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) provides reliable lower-extremity (LE) strength measurements in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This method is effective even for novice testers, ensuring consistent results.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often experience impaired motor function, necessitating accurate strength assessment.
- Measuring lower-extremity (LE) strength is crucial for monitoring recovery and guiding rehabilitation in pediatric TBI.
- Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) offers a practical approach to strength testing, but its reliability in pediatric TBI populations needs validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the within-session reliability of a standardized HHD protocol for assessing LE strength in children with TBI.
- To compare the reliability of this protocol between children with TBI and age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) children.
- To establish the feasibility of using HHD for LE strength assessment by novice testers in pediatric TBI.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample included 24 children with TBI and 24 age- and sex-matched TD controls.
- Strength of four LE muscle groups in each lower limb was measured twice within the same session.
- Intrarater reliability was assessed using a standardized protocol with a hand-held dynamometer.
Main Results:
- Excellent within-session intrarater reliability (0.91–0.99) was observed for both children with TBI and TD children.
- The standard error of measurement for LE strength in children with TBI ranged from 0.51 to 1.52 kg.
- No significant differences in reliability were found between the TBI and TD groups.
Conclusions:
- A standardized HHD protocol yields reliable LE strength measurements in children with TBI.
- Novice testers can effectively utilize this protocol to obtain dependable strength data in pediatric TBI.
- HHD is a reliable tool for assessing LE strength in children with TBI, supporting its use in clinical and research settings.
