Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine test-retest and inter-rater reliability of hand-held
dynamometry when used to measure knee--extensor strength in patients with
advanced cancer. SUBJECTS: Adults with metastatic or locally advanced cancer
recruited from palliative care services to a study of the risk factors for falls.
METHODS: Consecutive recruits (n = 30) underwent repeat testing after an interval
of 1 h, by the same researcher, to assess test-retest reliability. The subsequent
15 patients underwent retesting by a second researcher. The intra-class
correlation coefficient and limits of agreement were calculated. RESULTS: The
test-retest reliability difference between measurements increased with the
magnitude of measurement, mean leg strength = 113 N (standard deviation 43.1),
95% ratio limits of agreement 0.81-1.5, intra-class correlation coefficient =
0.9. The inter-rater testing mean leg strength = 128.5 N (standard deviation
35.1), 95% limits of agreement = -57.24 to 36.06 N. Intra-class correlation
coefficient = 0.83. CONCLUSION: Test-retesting and inter-rater testing yielded
high intra-class correlation coefficients, but the limits of agreement were wide.
In test-retesting, the difference between tests increased as the magnitude of
measurement increased. It has been widely reported that hand-held dynamometry is
reliable when used to measure knee-extensor strength in frail or elderly persons.
However, our results show that, even in these populations, reliability may be
compromised by inadequate tester strength.
Neoplasme - Cancer -
Force musculaire

Langue : ANGLAIS