Abstract
Respiratory societies recommend strengthening the upper limbs muscles in COPD patients. In order to determine an accurate and effective strengthening protocol, it is necessary to assess the maximum voluntary strength (MVS). The handheld dynamometer (HHD) is an easy-to-use tool for this assessment; however, the reliability of these measurements has not been studied for the upper limbs. The main objective was to study the intra- and inter-operator reliability of the maximum isometric voluntary strenght measurements of shoulder abductor muscles (ABD), elbow flexors (FL) and elbow extenders (EXT) using a HHD and to compare these measurements with the 1-RM (one repetition maximum).
Prospective monocentric study including COPD patients. MVS measurements were performed using HDD. 3 separate 24-hours measurement sessions were performed, the first 2 sessions by a physiotherapist A and the third session by a physiotherapist B. The main outcome was the evaluation of the measurement of MVS for ABD, FL and EXT. Intra- and inter-operator reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The sample size calculated was 57 patients.
Fifty-seven patients participated in this study. For the measurement of MVS of ABD, FL and EXT, the intra-class correlation coefficient was respectively 0.84 (p <. 01), 0.94 (p <. 01), 0.89 (p <. 01) in intra-operator; 0.90 (p <. 01), 0.91 (p <. 01), 0.93 (p <. 01) in inter-operator. The correlation between the MVS using handheld dynamometer and 1-RM measurements ranged from 0.39 to 0.69 (p <. 01).
The HHD provides excellent MVS reliability and validity of ABD, FL and EXT. HHD can be used for routine assessment of upper limb muscles in COPD.
Footnotes
Cite this article as Eur Respir J 2022; 60: Suppl. 66, 968.
This article was presented at the 2022 ERS International Congress, in session “-”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
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