Selected issues relating to the medicolegal applications of isokinetic dynamometry

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dvir, Zeevi^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel 69978

Abstract: Isokinetic dynamometry (ISD) is recognized by most clinicians involved with muscle performance assessment to be the standard tool for this purpose. This technology is also sufficiently widespread to render some of its derived findings interpretable by experienced users, much the same as it applies to other clinical measurements. Although, the clinical value of ISD took some years to establish, the medicolegal field was fast in grasping its enormous potential in quantifying indemnifiable damages to the muscular system; indeed the legal application of ISD was one of the first to emerge soon after this technology was introduced, some 30 years ago. This review deals with some of the main medicolegal aspects of ISD theoretical/substantial and practical/procedural. Within this context, it also concerns the critical problem of admissibility by indicating a possible scientifically-based approach to proving whether the alleged weakness is genuine or not.

Keywords: Isokinetic dynamometry (ISD), Muscle performance assessment, Medicolegal applications

DOI: 10.3233/IES-1996-53-407

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 5, no. 3-4, pp. 143-147, 1996