Reliability, minimal detectable change, and normative values for tests of upper extremity function and power.

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Kinesiology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Assessing upper extremity (UE) functional power is crucial for evaluating physical performance and guiding rehabilitation.
• Existing methods for measuring UE functional power may lack comprehensive reliability and normative data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of three upper extremity functional power tests.
• To establish normative values for these upper extremity tests in a diverse population.
• To analyze the relationships between dominant and nondominant arm performance and between different test types.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving 180 participants (69 men, 111 women) assessed UE strength and power.
• Three tests were administered: seated shot-put (dominant and nondominant arms), timed push-ups, and modified pull-ups.
• Test-retest reliability was assessed in 46 participants within 5 days of the initial testing.

Main Results:

• Excellent test-retest reliability was observed for all tests: modified pull-up (ICC=0.958), timed push-up (ICC=0.989), dominant shot-put (ICC=0.988), and nondominant shot-put (ICC=0.971).
• The MDC was 2 repetitions for both push-up and modified pull-up tests.
• The MDCs for the dominant and nondominant arm shot-put tests were 17 and 18 inches, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated upper extremity functional power tests exhibit excellent reliability and provide practical, effective methods for measurement.
• Established normative values require further validation but offer a baseline for comparison.
• These field tests are suitable for assessing upper extremity functional power in various populations.