Reliability of Muscle Strength and Muscle Power Assessments Using Isokinetic Dynamometry in Neuromuscular Diseases: A Systematic Review. 2022

Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
Child Development and Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The purpose of this study was to critically appraise and summarize the evidence for reliability of muscle strength and muscle power assessment in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) using isokinetic dynamometry. PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase electronic databases were searched from inception to March 8, 2022. Studies designed to evaluate reliability of muscle strength and power measurements using isokinetic dynamometry were included in this review. First, the methodological quality of the studies was assessed according to the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments guidelines. Next, the quality of measurement properties was determined. Finally, the methodological quality and quality of measurement properties of the studies were combined to obtain a best-evidence synthesis. A best-evidence synthesis of reliability was performed in 11 studies including postpoliomyelitis syndrome (n = 5), hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (n = 2), motor neuron diseases (n = 1), myotonic dystrophy (n = 1), and groups of pooled NMDs (n = 2). A best-evidence synthesis on measurement error could not be performed. Quality of evidence on reliability ranged from high in postpoliomyelitis syndrome to very low in hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, motor neuron diseases, and groups of pooled NMDs. The most frequently used outcome measure was peak torque, which was reliable in all populations (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.7). The quality of evidence for reliability of isokinetic dynamometry was found to vary substantially among different NMDs. High quality of evidence has been obtained only in patients with postpoliomyelitis syndrome. Further research is needed in the majority of known NMDs to determine reliability and validity of isokinetic dynamometry. The ability of isokinetic dynamometers to capture clinically relevant changes in muscle strength and muscle power in NMDs remains unclear. Isokinetic dynamometry results in NMDs should be interpreted with caution.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009468 Neuromuscular Diseases A general term encompassing lower MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; and certain MUSCULAR DISEASES. Manifestations include MUSCLE WEAKNESS; FASCICULATION; muscle ATROPHY; SPASM; MYOKYMIA; MUSCLE HYPERTONIA, myalgias, and MUSCLE HYPOTONIA. Amyotonia Congenita,Oppenheim Disease,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndrome,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Foley-Denny-Brown Syndrome,Oppenheim's Disease,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndrome,Benign Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes,Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome,Cramp-Fasciculation Syndromes,Fasciculation Cramp Syndrome, Benign,Fasciculation-Cramp Syndromes, Benign,Foley Denny Brown Syndrome,Neuromuscular Disease,Oppenheims Disease,Syndrome, Cramp-Fasciculation,Syndrome, Foley-Denny-Brown,Syndromes, Cramp-Fasciculation
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015203 Reproducibility of Results The statistical reproducibility of measurements (often in a clinical context), including the testing of instrumentation or techniques to obtain reproducible results. The concept includes reproducibility of physiological measurements, which may be used to develop rules to assess probability or prognosis, or response to a stimulus; reproducibility of occurrence of a condition; and reproducibility of experimental results. Reliability and Validity,Reliability of Result,Reproducibility Of Result,Reproducibility of Finding,Validity of Result,Validity of Results,Face Validity,Reliability (Epidemiology),Reliability of Results,Reproducibility of Findings,Test-Retest Reliability,Validity (Epidemiology),Finding Reproducibilities,Finding Reproducibility,Of Result, Reproducibility,Of Results, Reproducibility,Reliabilities, Test-Retest,Reliability, Test-Retest,Result Reliabilities,Result Reliability,Result Validities,Result Validity,Result, Reproducibility Of,Results, Reproducibility Of,Test Retest Reliability,Validity and Reliability,Validity, Face
D015417 Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy A group of slowly progressive inherited disorders affecting motor and sensory peripheral nerves. Subtypes include HMSNs I-VII. HMSN I and II both refer to CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE. HMSN III refers to hypertrophic neuropathy of infancy. HMSN IV refers to REFSUM DISEASE. HMSN V refers to a condition marked by a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy associated with spastic paraplegia (see SPASTIC PARAPLEGIA, HEREDITARY). HMSN VI refers to HMSN associated with an inherited optic atrophy (OPTIC ATROPHIES, HEREDITARY), and HMSN VII refers to HMSN associated with retinitis pigmentosa. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1343) Dejerine-Sottas Disease,HMSN,HMSN Type III,HMSN Type VII,Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathies,Hereditary, Type III, Motor and Sensory Neuropathy,Hereditary, Type VII, Motor and Sensory Neuropathy,Neuropathies, Hereditary Motor and Sensory,CMT4f,Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Demyelinating, Type 4f,Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Type 3,Dejerine-Sottas Neuropathy,Dejerine-Sottas Syndrome,HMSN3,Herditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy,Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy,Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy 3,Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy Type III,Hypertrophic Neuropathy of Dejerine-Sottas,Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, Type 3,Dejerine Sottas Disease,Dejerine Sottas Neuropathy,Dejerine Sottas Syndrome,Dejerine-Sottas Hypertrophic Neuropathy,Disease, Dejerine-Sottas,HMSN Type IIIs,HMSN Type VIIs,Hypertrophic Neuropathy of Dejerine Sottas,Neuropathy, Dejerine-Sottas,Syndrome, Dejerine-Sottas,Type VII, HMSN
D016262 Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome A syndrome characterized by new neuromuscular symptoms that occur at least 15 years after clinical stability has been attained in patients with a prior history of symptomatic poliomyelitis. Clinical features include new muscular weakness and atrophy of the limbs, bulbar innervated musculature, and muscles of respiration, combined with excessive fatigue, joint pain, and reduced stamina. The process is marked by slow progression and periods of stabilization. (From Ann NY Acad Sci 1995 May 25;753:68-80) Muscular Atrophy, Postpoliomyelitis,Post-Polio Syndrome,Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome,Postpoliomyelitis Muscular Atrophy,Post-Poliomyelitis Muscular Atrophy,Muscular Atrophies, Post-Poliomyelitis,Muscular Atrophies, Postpoliomyelitis,Muscular Atrophy, Post-Poliomyelitis,Post Poliomyelitis Muscular Atrophy,Post Poliomyelitis Syndrome,Post-Polio Syndromes,Post-Poliomyelitis Muscular Atrophies,Postpoliomyelitis Muscular Atrophies
D053580 Muscle Strength The amount of force generated by MUSCLE CONTRACTION. Muscle strength can be measured during isometric, isotonic, or isokinetic contraction, either manually or using a device such as a MUSCLE STRENGTH DYNAMOMETER. Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition,Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibitions,Inhibition, Arthrogenic Muscle,Muscle Inhibition, Arthrogenic,Strength, Muscle
D053581 Muscle Strength Dynamometer A device that measures MUSCLE STRENGTH during muscle contraction, such as gripping, pushing, and pulling. It is used to evaluate the health status of muscle in sports medicine or physical therapy. Dynamometer, Muscle Strength,Dynamometers, Muscle Strength,Muscle Strength Dynamometers
D018482 Muscle, Skeletal A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles. Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles

Related Publications

Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
March 2021, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
May 2000, European journal of applied physiology,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
January 2002, Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
May 2011, PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
January 2010, Journal of athletic training,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
February 2002, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
July 2025, Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
February 2020, Sports biomechanics,
Danny R van der Woude, and Thijs Ruyten, and Bart Bartels
January 2019, PloS one,
Copied contents to your clipboard!