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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies
Published on: January 31, 2013
Reliability of quantitative muscle testing in healthy children and in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy using
1C. Louis Meyer Children's Rehabilitation Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68131.
Insights
Hand-held dynamometers demonstrate reliable isometric muscle strength measurements in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and healthy children. This reliable testing supports accurate strength assessment in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Neuromuscular Research
- Biomechanical Measurement
Background:
- Accurate measurement of isometric muscle strength is crucial for assessing pediatric neuromuscular conditions.
- Hand-held dynamometry is a common tool, but its reliability in specific pediatric populations requires validation.
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) impacts muscle strength, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the intratester and test-retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry for isometric muscle strength measurement.
- To assess reliability in both healthy children and children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- To determine the suitability of hand-held dynamometers for pediatric muscle strength assessment.
Main Methods:
- Isometric muscle strength of hip/knee extension, elbow flexion, and shoulder abduction was measured bilaterally in 28 children (14 DMD, 14 healthy).
- Measurements were taken by a single physical therapist using a hand-held dynamometer.
- Intratester and test-retest reliability were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Main Results:
- No significant differences (p > .05) were found within or across testing sessions for either group.
- Correlation coefficients for the Dystrophic Group ranged from .83 to .99.
- Correlation coefficients for the Healthy Group ranged from .74 to .99, indicating high reliability.
Conclusions:
- Hand-held dynamometry is a reliable instrument for measuring isometric muscle strength in selected pediatric muscles.
- The findings support the use of hand-held dynamometers for consistent strength assessment in children, including those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- This tool can aid in monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy in pediatric neuromuscular disorders.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine intratester and test-retest reliability using a hand-held dynamometer for the measurement of isometric muscle strength in 28 healthy children and children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The Dystrophic Group consisted of 14 children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the Healthy Group consisted of 14 age-matched children with no history of orthopedic or neuromuscular disorders. One physical therapist tested hip and knee extension, elbow flexion, and shoulder abduction in each child bilaterally. A two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to analyze differences between measurements taken within and across the testing sessions. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were determined on mean values across the testing sessions for each variable. No significant differences (p greater than .05) between measurements taken within or across testing sessions were found in either the Dystrophic Group or the Healthy Group. Correlation coefficients for the Dystrophic Group ranged from .83 to .99 for the variables tested. Correlation coefficients for the Healthy Group ranged from .74 to .99. The results suggest that the hand-held dynamometer can be used as a reliable instrument in measuring the isometric strength of selected muscles in children.
