Improving Wrist Strength Assessment Reliability: A Review of Handheld Dynamometry Protocols and Their Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Clinical Measurement

Background:

• Handheld dynamometry (HHD) is a common tool for assessing muscle strength, especially in the wrist.
• Variability in HHD measurement reliability stems from inconsistent testing protocols, impacting clinical and research utility.
• Standardized protocols are needed to overcome challenges in HHD application for wrist strength assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of literature on handheld dynamometry for wrist strength measurement.
• To identify factors influencing the reliability of HHD measurements in wrist strength assessment.
• To provide recommendations for standardized HHD protocols in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was performed.
• Searches were conducted in EBSCO, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library using MeSH terms related to HHD, wrist, forearm, muscle, and strength.
• Three independent reviewers screened articles, with blinded selections to ensure objectivity.

Main Results:

• HHD can yield reliable muscle strength measurements when standardized protocols are employed.
• High intra-examiner reliability (ICC 0.71–0.90) was frequently reported.
• Inter-examiner reliability demonstrated greater variability, particularly with multiple examiners; precise dynamometer placement and patient positioning are key to reducing variability.

Conclusions:

• The reliability of HHD for wrist strength assessment is contingent upon standardized testing procedures.
• Implementing validated, standardized protocols is essential for improving measurement consistency and reliability in clinical settings.
• Further research is necessary to establish and implement these protocols widely in clinical practice.