Reliability of hand-held dynamometer for strength testing of knee musculature in healthy Indian pediatric population: A cross-sectional study

Objective: This study was designed to determine intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of hand held dynamometer for testing knee flexors and extensors isometric muscle strength. Study Design: Cross sectional study Subjects: 29 young healthy children, 15 boys and 14 girls between the age group of 10 -15 years with mean age12.58 ± 1.63 (Mean ± SD) were included in the study. Methodology: Subjects were tested with a Base line portable hand held dynamometer on three separate occasions by two separate examiners to determine maximal isometric strength values for knee flexors, and knee extensors. Results: The mean scores for knee flexion and extension exhibited excellent inter-rater reliability with ICC ranging from 0.93 to 0.96 and moderate to good intra-rater reliability with ICC ranging from 0.65 to 0.86 at 95% of CI. Conclusion: The hand held dynamometer is a reliable tool to use in determining lower limb muscle force production. And it can be reliably used in assessment of muscle strength in healthy pediatric population age 10-15 years. Implications: Since the hand held dynamometer has been found to be reliable in healthy pediatric population, further studies are recommended for its reliability in children with various dysfunctions.