Isometric Shoulder Testing Using a Forcemeter Is a Reliable Method of Strength Evaluation

Abstract

Isometric strength testing using a digital dynamometer is reliable for muscle function evaluation. It allows us to objectify manual strength assessment measurement. We tested intra- and inter-observer reliability of a user-friendly efficient digital dynamometer—the Forcemeter—equipped with a computer program to monitor the measurements and to store the data. Abduction, forward flexion, and external and internal rotation of both shoulders were tested three times in 20 healthy volunteers with no record of shoulder trauma. Isometric contracture was recorded in newtons. The first and the third test were carried out by Examiner A (intra-rater reliability); the second test, by Examiner B (inter-rater reliability). Good reliability was shown for intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) values which mean moderate to high correlations (r = 0.66–0.93) for both examiners. Moderate to high correlations (r = 0.72–0.91) were found for comparisons between the results obtained by Examiner A.