Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the test-retest reliability of isometric and isokinetic
muscle strength measurements in the upper extremity after stroke. DESIGN: A
test-retest design. SUBJECTS: Forty-five persons with mild to moderate paresis in
the upper extremity > 6 months post-stroke. METHODS:
Isometric arm strength
(shoulder abduction, elbow flexion), isokinetic arm strength (elbow
extension/flexion) and isometric grip strength were measured with electronic
dynamometers. Reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficients
(ICC), changes in the mean, standard error of measurements (SEM) and smallest
real differences (SRD). RESULTS: Reliability was high (ICCs: 0.92-0.97). The
absolute and relative (%) SEM ranged from 2.7 Nm (5.6%) to 3.0 Nm (9.4%) for
isometric arm strength, 2.6 Nm (7.4%) to 2.9 Nm (12.6%) for isokinetic arm
strength, and 22.3 N (7.6%) to 26.4 N (9.2%) for grip strength. The absolute and
relative (%) SRD ranged from 7.5 Nm (15.5%) to 8.4 Nm (26.1%) for isometric arm
strength, 7.1 Nm (20.6%) to 8.0 Nm (34.8%) for isokinetic arm strength, and 61.8
N (21.0%) to 73.3 N (25.6%) for grip strength. CONCLUSION: Muscle strength in the
upper extremity can be reliably measured in persons with chronic stroke.
Isometric measurements yield smaller measurement errors than isokinetic
measurements and might be preferred, but the choice depends on the research
question.

Langue : ANGLAIS