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Hand-Held Dynamometry Isometric Torque Reference Values for Children and Adolescents

Luc J Hébert1, Désirée B Maltais, Céline Lepage

  • 1Rehabilitation Department (Dr Hébert and Maltais), and Radiology Department (Dr Hébert), Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Drs Hébert and Maltais), Quebec, Canada; and Quebec Rehabilitation Centre (Mss Lepage, Saulnier and Crête), Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|September 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study provides hand-held dynamometry (HHD) reference values for maximal isometric muscle torque (MIT) in typically developing children and adolescents. These data aid in identifying muscle strength deficits in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric physical therapy
  • Biomechanics
  • Human motor development

Background:

  • Establishing normative data for muscle strength is crucial for assessing pediatric populations.
  • Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) offers a feasible and reliable method for measuring muscle torque.
  • Previous research has highlighted the need for specific reference values in children and adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish hand-held dynamometry (HHD) maximal isometric muscle torque (MIT) reference values.
  • To provide data for typically developing children and adolescents.
  • To facilitate the identification of muscle strength impairments.

Main Methods:

  • Maximal isometric muscle torque (MIT) of 10 upper and lower limb muscle groups was measured.
  • A standardized HHD protocol was employed in 351 Caucasian youth aged 4 years 2 months to 17 years.
  • The protocol's feasibility, validity, and reliability have been previously established.

Main Results:

  • Mean MIT and 95% confidence intervals were reported for all muscle groups.
  • Data were stratified by 14 age groups (1-year spans) and sex.
  • Results were presented in both absolute (Nm) and normalized (Nm/kg) values.

Conclusions:

  • The established HHD reference values can assist in identifying muscle strength impairments in pediatric populations.
  • These values are particularly useful for detecting bilateral impairments.
  • This study contributes essential normative data for pediatric clinical practice and research.
Abstract

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