Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the interday test-retest reliability of volitional and
non-volitional measurements of isometric quadriceps strength using a strain-gauge
in people with severe to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Volitional quadriceps measurements consisted of
isometric maximal voluntary contractions. Non-volitional measurements were
obtained during magnetic potentiated twitch stimulations of the femoral nerve.
SETTING: Research centre laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four individuals with
severe to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (percentage of
predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 37% predicted). RESULTS: Maximal
voluntary contractions and potentiated twitch stimulations measures demonstrated
excellent interday test-retest relative reliability (ICC 0.97 and 0.80,
respectively), while absolute reliability measures were different between
techniques (SEM 1.4 kg, CV 3.2%, MDC 3.9 kg vs SEM 1.5 kg, CV 12.2%, MDC 4.2 kg
for maximal voluntary contractions and potentiated twitch stimulations,
respectively). CONCLUSION: The results supports that maximal voluntary
contraction and potentiated twitch stimulation measurements of isometric
quadriceps strength are reliable in people with severe to very severe chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease as evident excellent relative reliability using
both techniques, although the former technique appears to have better absolute
reliability.

Langue : ANGLAIS