Article

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and appraise the literature on the intraexaminer
reliability of hand-held dynamometry (HHD) in the upper extremity. DATA SOURCES:
MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE were searched for relevant studies published up to
December 2011. In addition, experts were contacted, and journals and reference
lists were hand searched. STUDY SELECTION: To be included in the review, articles
needed to (1) use a repeated-measures, within-examiner(s) design; (2) include
symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals, or both; (3) use HHD to measure muscle
strength in any of the joints of the shoulder, elbow, or wrist with the "make" or
the "break" technique; (4) report measurements in kilogram, pound, or torque; (5)
use a device that is placed between the examiner's hand and the subject's body;
and (6) present estimates of intraexaminer reliability. DATA EXTRACTION: Quality
assessment and data extraction were performed by 2 reviewers independently. DATA
SYNTHESIS: Fifty-four studies were included, of which 26 (48%) demonstrated
acceptable intraexaminer reliability. Seven high-quality studies showed
acceptable reliability for flexion and extension of the elbow in healthy
subjects. Conflicting results were found for shoulder external rotation and
abduction. Reliability for all other movements was unacceptable. Higher estimates
were reached for within-sessions reliability and if means of trials were used.
CONCLUSIONS: Intraexaminer reliability of HHD in upper extremity muscle strength
was acceptable only for elbow measurements in healthy subjects. We provide
specific recommendations for future research. Physical therapists should not rely
on HHD measurements for evaluation of treatment effects in patients with upper
extremity disorders.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS