Minimal detectable change of measures of knee extension force obtained by hand-held dynamometry from five patient groups: A systematic review

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bohannon, Richard W.^a

Affiliations: [a] Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Kinesiology, Neag School of Education, 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: This review used published data to describe the minimal detectable change for make test measurements of knee extension force obtained by hand-held dynamometry. Five studies involving patients contributed data. Depending on the study and side, the minimal detectable change ranged from 7.6 to 92.1 Newtons. These values provide an indication of how much a patient's knee extension force would need to change to conclude that a real alteration in status had occurred.

Keywords: Muscle strength, measurement, dynamometry

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2010-0371

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 133-135, 2010