Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, University of
Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Richard W. Bohannon, Department
of Physical Therapy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA.
Tel.: +1 860 486 0048; Fax: +1 860 486 1588; E-mail: richard.bohannon@uconn.edu
Abstract: Little research has focused on the measurement of both hip external
and internal rotation strength. The purpose of this study was to describe the
consistency of isometric hip rotation forces measured by hand-held
dyanamometry. Specifically, we described the consistency over time and between
sides. For 15 subjects measured during 2 sessions one week apart, rotation
forces and force ratios did not differ significantly. Intraclass correlation
coefficients (ICCs) were high (0.836–0.944) except for the external to
internal rotation force ratio on the right side (0.367). For 32 subjects
measured during 1 session, hip external rotation forces and rotation force
ratios did, but hip internal rotation forces did not, differ between sides. The
between-side ICCs were high for the force measures (0.897&0.901) but not
for the force ratio (0.337). Unlike force ratios, isometric force measurements
obtained during a previous test session or from the other side provide a basis
for measurement interpretation. The method errors and coefficients of variation
of the method error that we report may be helpful in such interpretation.
