1. Reliability of hand - held dynamometry for measurement of lower limb muscle strength in children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.
- Author
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SHI Wei, LI Hui, SU Yi, LU Kai, HOU Fang-hua, and YANG Hong
- Subjects
DIAGNOSIS of Duchenne muscular dystrophy ,KNEE anatomy ,HIP joint ,LEG ,ANKLE ,BECKER muscular dystrophy ,BODY weight ,DUCHENNE muscular dystrophy ,EXERCISE tests ,MOLECULAR biology ,MUSCLE contraction ,MUSCLE strength ,NEUROSURGERY ,NEUROLOGY ,DIAGNOSIS ,ANATOMY - Abstract
Objective To determine the reliability of hand-held dynamometry (HHD) for lower limb isometric muscle strength measurement in children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/ BMD). Methods A total of 21 children [20 males and one female; mean age was (7.88 ± 2.87) years, ranging between 3.96-14.09 years; mean age at diagnosis was (5.88 ± 2.88) years, ranging between 1.35-12.89 years; mean height was (120.64 ± 16.30) cm, ranging between 97-153 cm; mean body weight was (24.62 ± 9.05) kg, ranging between 14-50 kg] with DMD (19/21) and BMD (2/21) were involved from Rehabilitation Center of Children's Hospital of Fudan University. The muscle strength of hip, knee and ankle was measured by HHD under standardized test methods. The test-retest results were compared to determine the inter-test reliability, and the results among testers were compared to determine the inter-tester reliability. Results HHD showed fine inter-tester reliability (ICC = 0.762-0.978) and inter-test reliability (ICC = 0.690-0.938) in measuring lower limb muscle strength of children with DMD/BMD. Results also showed relatively poor reliability in distal muscle groups (foot plantar flexion and dorsiflexion). Conclusions HHD, showing fine inter-tester and inter-test reliability in measuring the lower limb muscle strength of children with DMD/BMD, can be used in monitoring muscle strength changing and assessing effects of clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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