Comparison of methods for evaluating upper limb strength by hand-held dynamometry / Comparação entre métodos na avaliação de dinamometria hand-held para músculos dos membros superiores / Comparación entre métodos en la evaluación de dinamometría hand-held para músculos de los miembros superiores

ABSTRACT Introduction The upper limbs are segments of the human body responsible for primary activities of daily life, and the muscles are essential structures for performing these activities. There have been few studies on intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in healthy subjects, and none have been published that compare dynamometric evaluation methods in the main muscles in this segment. Objective Evaluate intra-examiner and inter-examiner assessment reliability of the hand-held dynamometry of upper limb muscles in healthy individuals, as well as comparing the assessment reliability between fixed and non-fixed methods. Methods Healthy subjects aged over 18 years were recruited for the study. The isometric contraction for ten muscle groups of the dominant upper limb was tested. For the fixed method, we used a system of suction cups, connected to the HHD by an inelastic belt. For the non-fixed method, the examiner supported the device by hand. The isometric contraction was sustained for three seconds. Each measurement was repeated three times, considering the highest value obtained. The reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The dispersion between measurements was expressed by a Bland-Altman plot. Results The sample consisted of 25 volunteers, all right-handed. The intra-examiner ICC was 0.89-0.99 for the non-fixed method, and 0.43 to 0.85 for the fixed method. Inter-examiner reliability showed equivalent behavior. This study showed that evaluation of upper limb muscle strength using an isometric dynamometer has excellent intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability. The supine position was chosen due to the need to propose a feasible protocol for clinical practice that could be replicated for the majority of publics and in different environments. The non-fixed method showed better reliability overall, demonstrating the feasibility of this tool without the need for adaptations, additional devices, or increased operating costs for this evaluation. Conclusion Comparison between the fixed and non-fixed HHD methods demonstrated superiority of the non-fixed method in terms of reliability. Level of evidence II; Investigation of a diagnostic exam - Development of diagnostic criteria with consecutive patients.

RESUMO Introdução Os membros superiores são segmentos do corpo humano responsáveis por atividades primordiais do nosso cotidiano, e os músculos são estruturas imprescindíveis para isso. Ainda são escassos na literatura os estudos sobre a confiabilidade intra e interexaminadores da dinamometria Hand-Held em indivíduos saudáveis, sendo inédita a comparação entre os métodos de avaliação da dinamometria nos principais músculos desse segmento. Objetivo Avaliar a confiabilidade da avaliação intraexaminador e interexaminador da dinamometria manual de músculos do membro superior em indivíduos saudáveis, bem como comparar a confiabilidade da avaliação entre métodos fixos e não fixos. Métodos Foram recrutados indivíduos saudáveis, maiores de 18 anos. A contração isométrica para dez grupos musculares do membro superior dominante foi testada. Para o método fixado, foi empregado um sistema de ventosas conectado ao Dinamomêtro Hand-Held (DHH) por um cinto inelástico. No método não fixado, o examinador apoiou o aparelho com a mão. A contração isométrica foi sustentada por três segundos. Cada medida foi repetida três vezes, considerando o maior valor obtido. A confiabilidade foi calculada através do coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI). A dispersão entre as medidas foi expressa pelo diagrama de Bland-Altman. Resultados A amostra foi composta por 25 voluntários, todos destros. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI) dos intraexaminadores para método não fixado foi de 0,89 a 0,99 e, para o método fixado, situou-se entre 0,43 e 0,85. A confiabilidade interexaminadores teve comportamento equivalente. O presente estudo demonstrou que a avaliação da força dos músculos dos MMSS com dinamômetro isométrico apresenta excelente confiabilidade tanto intra como interexaminadores. A escolha do posicionamento em supino vem da necessidade de propor um protocolo factível na prática clínica, replicável para a maioria dos públicos e em ambientes diversos. O fato de o método não fixado demonstrar maior confiabilidade, em geral, expõe a viabilidade do uso dessa ferramenta sem necessidade de adaptações, dispositivos adicionais ou aumento do custo operacional nessa avaliação. Conclusão A comparação entre os métodos fixados e os não fixados da dinamometria Hand-Held demonstrou superioridade do método não fixado quanto à confiabilidade. Nível de evidência II; Estudos diagnósticos - Investigação de um exame para diagnóstico - Desenvolvimento de critérios diagnósticos com pacientes consecutivos.

RESUMEN Introducción Los miembros superiores son segmentos del cuerpo humano responsables de las actividades primordiales de nuestro cotidiano, y los músculos son estructuras imprescindibles para eso. Aún son escasos los estudios sobre la confiabilidad intra e interexaminadores de la dinamometría Hand-Held en individuos saludables, siendo inédita la comparación entre los métodos de evaluación de la dinamometría en los músculos principales de ese segmento. Objetivos Evaluar la confiabilidad de la evaluación intraexaminador e interexaminador de la dinamometría manual de músculos del miembro superior en individuos saludables, bien como comparar la confiabilidad der la evaluación entre métodos fijos y no fijos. Métodos Se reclutaron individuos saludables, mayores de 18 años. Se probó la contracción isométrica para diez grupos musculares del miembro superior dominante. Para el método fijado, se utilizó un sistema de ventosas, conectado al Dinamómetro Hand-Held (DHH) a través de un cinturón inelástico. En el método no fijado, el examinador apoyó el aparato con la mano. La contracción isométrica fue sustentada por tres segundos. Cada medición fue repetida tres veces, considerando el valor más alto obtenido. La confiabilidad fue calculada a través del coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI). La dispersión entre las mediciones se expresó por el diagrama de Bland-Altman. Resultados La muestra fue compuesta por 25 voluntarios, todos diestros. El coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI) de los intraexaminadores para método no fijado fue de 0,89 a 0,99 y, para el método fijado fue entre 0,43 y 0,85. La confiabilidad intraexaminadores tuvo comportamiento equivalente. El presente estudio demostró que la evaluación de la fuerza de los músculos de los MMSS con un dinamómetro isométrico presenta excelente confiabilidad tanto intra como interexaminadores. La elección del posicionamiento en supino viene de la necesidad de proponer un protocolo factible en la práctica clínica, replicable para la mayoría de los públicos y en ambientes diversos. El hecho de que el método no fijado demuestre mayor confiabilidad, en general, expone la viabilidad del uso de esa herramienta sin necesidad de adaptaciones, dispositivos adicionales o aumento del costo operacional, en esa evaluación. Conclusión La comparación entre los métodos fijados y no fijados de la dinamometría Hand-Held demostró superioridad del método no fijado cuanto a la confiabilidad. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios diagnósticos - Investigación de un examen para diagnóstico - Desarrollo de criterios diagnósticos con pacientes consecutivos.

Postural Control in the Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with chronic tension-type headache (TTH) have abnormalities of postural control, and to disclose any frequency shift of the centre of gravity while standing upright. METHODS: Thirty patients with chronic TTH diagnosed by the International Headache Society Classification criteria and with tenderness in pericranial muscles were compared with thirty age and sex matched controls. All the subjects underwent static and computerized dynamic posturography. The spectral frequency analysis of body sway while standing upright was investigated. RESULTS: The sway distance and the sway area of center of foot pressure significantly increased in the patients with TTH. Spectral frequency analysis showed a significant increase in spectral power below the 1.00 Hz frequency band. Computerized dynamic posturography showed a decreased somatosensory ratio in the patients with TTH. The patients with good response to medical treatment showed significant improvement in the follow-up posturography. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a significant proprioceptive disturbance in TTH patients. The disturbance is likely related to chronic pericranial muscle contractions causing tenderness.

Relationship of the terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position in different vertical dimension / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To investigate the relationship of the terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position with different vertical dimension.Methods: The terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position with different vertical dimension were recorded for ten edentulous patients with gothic arch.Results: The mesial distance between the terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position increased with the vertical dimension.The lateral dimension between the terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position,the distribution of the terminal position of the muscular contraction path are not correlated to the vertical dimension.The center of the terminal position of the muscular contraction path is 1-4 mm ahead of the centric relation position and(0.42?0.47) mm lateral to the centric relation position.The distribution of the terminal position of the muscular contraction path is(1.36?0.58) mm in the mesial-distal direction,(1.56?0.62) mm in the lateral direction.Conclusion: With the increase of the vertical dimension,the mesial distance between the terminal position of the muscular contraction path and centric relation position increased.

Effects of Shaolin Internal Qigong on Physiological Changes / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: The physiological changes of the respiro-circulatory functions between skilled subject and unskilled subjects during the practice of Up-right Standing Posture of Shaolin Internal Qigong were compared. Method: The heart rate (HR), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory efficiency (RE), and respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure, and lactic acid in the blood were measured.Results: The high correlations between the HR and the VO2 values obtained from the exhaustion test were observed in all subjects. The higher values than at the rest were observed in the average HR and the average VO2 during practicing the Up-right Standing Posture both in the skilled subject and unskilled subjects. However, both HR and VO2 levels were almost constant during the practice in both the skilled subjectand unskilled subjects. The RE values changed in the time course of the practice, whereas the RR values were almost constant during the practice. The average RE showed different patterns between the skilled subject and unskilled subjects, the former increased and the latter decreased their RE levels.In addition, the average values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the skilled subject increased each 10 mmHg approximately at pre- and post- Up-right Standing Posture, and the increasing tendency was also recognized in the unskilled subjects. The values of the lactic acid in the blood of the skilled subject increased slightly, whereas the average values of the unskilled subjects increased by 3.4 mmol/1. Conclusion: Shaolin Internal Qigong could improve respiratory efficiency by the maximum isometric muscle contraction while the skilled subject maintained natural breathing. In addition, Shaolin Internal Qigong was considered to influence the reflex system because it inhibited both blood pressure increase and respiratory rate change. Shaolin Internal Qigong fit very well with Tuina doctor training course for promoting the physical ability and manipulation abilities of them.