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Updated: May 5, 2026
Manual Muscle Testing: A Method of Measuring Extremity Muscle Strength Applied to Critically Ill Patients
Published on: April 12, 2011
Muscular Strength in Cancer Patients: Proposed Normative Values
Buck Covington1, Luke Krynski, Lea Haverbeck Simon
1Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics, University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehabilitation Institute, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO.
Purpose:
The aim of this study is to propose muscular strength normative data tables for the cancer population and observe the effects of exercise training on categorical placement.
Methods:
Data from cancer survivors ( n = 659) encompassing various cancer types across all cancer stages were used for this study. Participants completed assessments to estimate one-repetition maximum (1RM) for both chest press and leg press, in addition to a test of maximum effort dominant handgrip strength. Strength-to-weight ratio (SWR) and handgrip strength values were divided into categories by sex and age and compared with normative values from the apparently healthy population as reported by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Results:
Comparison of mean SWR and handgrip strength values for the cancer population to the apparently healthy normative data resulted in each age/sex group being classified as "average" or lower. Of the 30 age/sex classification groups for the cancer population, 23 demonstrated mean strength values in the lowest category of their respective assessment.
Conclusions:
Normative data derived from the apparently healthy population may not be an appropriate comparison for the cancer population and may not be sensitive enough to detect categorical improvements in muscular strength resulting from exercise training. We provide an initial data set that could serve as a first step in the development of normative strength data for this population.
