Hand-held dynamometry: Reliability of lower extremity muscle testing in healthy, physically active, young adults

Context. Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) has been shown to be a reliable, objective way to obtain strength measurements in elderly and physically impaired subjects. Objective: To estimate the intratester, intertester, and intersession reliability of HHD testing of lower extremity movements in young, healthy subjects. Design: Repeated measures. Setting: Sports medicine laboratory. Participants: Nine males and eleven females (Mean age = 26 years). Measurements: Strength measures of 11 right lower extremity movements were taken by 3 different testers on 2 separate days using a HHD. Results: Intratester ICC range was .77 to .97 with SEM range of .01 to .44 kg. Mean intertester ICC range was .65 to .87 with SEM range of. 11 to 1.05 kg. Mean intersession ICC range was .62 to .92 with SEM range of .01 to .83 kg. Conclusions: HHD has the potential to be a reliable tool for strength measurements in healthy, strong subjects; however, there are noteworthy limitations with movements where subjects can overpower the testers.