Original Research
Validity and Reliability of Handheld Dynametric Strength Assessment of Hip Extensor and Abductor Muscles

Athletic Training & Sports Health Care  Vol. 2   No. 1   January/February 2010

By Jeffrey K. Kawaguchi, PhD, ATC, PT; Garth Babcock, PhD, ATC

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this study was to establish the validity of a commercially available handheld dynamometer by comparing isometric strength measurements for the hip extensor and abductor muscles assessed using a handheld dynamometer with isometric strength measurements assessed using isokinetic dynamometry. A secondary objective was to assess intratester and intertester reliability for the handheld dynamometer. The experimental design consisted of a randomly assigned repeated measures design. Two certified athletic trainers performed strength assessment on 8 college undergraduate students. Results suggested a correlation between strength measures assessed by the Biodex System 3 and the MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer, and demonstrated a strong intratester and intertester reliability with the handheld dynamometer. This study supports the use of the handheld dynamometer as a valid and reliable clinical tool for assessing an athlete’s hip abductor and extensor strength as part of a comprehensive clinical evaluation.

AUTHORS

Dr Kawaguchi and Mr Babcock are from the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Wash.

Originally submitted February 6, 2009.

Accepted for publication October 20, 2009.

The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.

Address correspondence to Jeffrey K. Kawaguchi, PhD, ATC, PT, Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation, Eastern Washington University, 200 Physical Education Building, Cheney, WA 99004; e-mail: jkawaguchi@mail.ewu.edu.

doi:10.3928/19425864-20101221-04