Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34798859›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2021

A portable isometric knee extensor strength testing device: test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change scores of the Q-Force ӀӀ in healthy adults.

Johanneke Hartog, Sandra Dijkstra, Joke Fleer, Pim van der Harst, Massimo A Mariani, Lucas H V van der Woude

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 36% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Johanneke HartogDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.hartog@umcg.nl.
Sandra DijkstraDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Joke FleerDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Pim van der HarstDepartment of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Massimo A MarianiDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Lucas H V van der WoudeCenter for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands.
University Medical Center Groningen · NLUniversity of Groningen · NLLoughborough University · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough knee extensors are essential in daily activities (e.g. walking, climbing stairs), knee extensor strength is often not measured in clinical settings. Existing devices to test muscle strength are not always suitable to accurately measure the high forces of this muscle group. Therefore, a device to test muscle strength that is convenient, feasible, reliable, and valid in clinical settings is required. This study evaluated the reliability, responsiveness, and level of discomfort of the newly developed Q-Force ӀӀ (i.e. a portable device to measure isometric knee extensor strength) in healthy middle-aged and elderly adults.

methodsParticipants (n = 22) conducted two standardized test sessions on the Q-Force ӀӀ (five to ten days apart). Each session consisted of one familiarisation trial followed by three trials of peak isometric knee extension per each leg. Per trial, peak and mean knee extension force (N) and torque (Nm) were measured at 90° flexion. The level of discomfort was determined using a visual analog scale (VAS: 0-100). Intra Class Correlation (ICC, model: two-way mixed with absolute agreement), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were determined. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine between-test variation.

resultsExcellent test-retest (ICC > 0.95) and inter-trial (ICC > 0.91) reliability for both legs were shown. No significant differences were found in peak and mean knee forces and torques between test and retest of both legs, indicating good test-retest reliability (P-value range: 0.360-0.538; F(1,21) range: 0.4-0.9). The SEM of the peak and mean forces and torques ranged from 28.0 to 30.4 N (6.0-6.8%) and from 9.2 to 10.4 Nm (6.4-7.7%), respectively. The MDC for these outcomes ranged respectively from 77.6 to 84.1 N (16.5-18.8%) and from 25.5 to 28.9 Nm (17.6-21.4%). The level of discomfort was low (median range: 7-10, IQR: 4-18).

conclusionThe portable Q-Force ӀӀ is a comfortable, responsive, and relatively cheap device with excellent test-retest reliability. This device would be potentially suitable to measure isometric knee extensor strength in clinical settings.

Indexed as

Isometric ContractionMuscle StrengthAdultAgedHumansKneeMiddle AgedMuscle Strength DynamometerReproducibility of ResultsMuscle strengthMuscle weaknessMuscular atrophyQuadriceps muscleRehabilitationReliabilityResistance trainingTherapeutics

Identifiers

PMID34798859
PMCPMC8602994
OpenAlexW3211454490

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.