The Utility of a Simplified Measurement for Leg Press Strength using a pull-type hand-held dynamometer in Community-dwelling Older Adults

• Published in: Physical Therapy Japan Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: SEKO, Toshiaki, KUMAMOTO, Tsuneo, MIURA, Sayo, MATSUDA, Ryo, SAKAGUCHI, Tomoyasu, ITO, Toshikazu, MORI, Mitsuru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Physical Therapy 2021
• Subjects: Knee extension strength; Leg press strength; Locomotive syndrome; Older adult; Walking speed
• ISSN: 0289-3770; 2189-602X
• DOI: 10.15063/rigaku.11820

Objective: This study aimed to confirm the utility of a simplified measurement for leg press strength using a pull-type hand-held dynamometer (referred to as pull-type HHD).Methods: The participants were 108 older people men and women. Measurements with pull-type HDD were performed for leg press strength, knee extension strength (referred to as KE) and knee flexion strength (referred to as KF). Leg press strength measurements were performed in two settings with a knee flexion angle of 60° and 30° (referred to as LP60 and 30). Indicators of mobility were the presence or absence of locomotive syndrome (referred to as locomo), and the maximum and the comfortable walking speeds. Intra-rater reliability of each muscle strength was verified using an intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC (1,1) and a Bland-Altman analysis. Correlations of each muscle strength with the locomo, and each gait speeds were verified by a multivariate analysis.Results: For all measurements, the ICC (1,1) values were 0.92 or larger and fixed error was observed in each muscle strength. Significant factors were extracted: LP60 for the locomo, LP60, KE and KF for the maximum gait speed, and KE for the comfortable gait speed.Conclusion: LP60 measurement by pull-type HHD is useful as a method to reflect locomo and maximum walking speed.