Reliability and validity of the DynEx dynamometer.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the reliability and validity of the digital DynEx dynamometer. Grip strength testing was conducted on 100 healthy subjects (aged 20-40 years) using both the Jamar and DynEx dynamometers in the second handle position. The data were analyzed for test-retest reliability and concurrent validity using the intraclass correlation coefficient. A repeated-measures analysis of covariance was conducted to reveal differences in grip strength between instruments. In addition, measurement error was calculated with known weights. The DynEx dynamometer was found to have high test-retest reliability both with human subjects ( r = 0.9864) and with known weights suspended from the dynamometer's handle ( r = 0.9999). The DynEx dynamometers had a smaller measurement error (1.63%) than the Jamar dynamometers (7.74%). Although significant differences were found between grip scores obtained on the Jamar and the DynEx (F = 6.222; p = 0.014), the concurrent validity between the two instruments was excellent ( r > 0.98). The results of this study indicate that clinicians can use the DynEx dynamometer at the second handle position knowing that it is reliable, valid, and comparable to the second handle position of the Jamar dynamometer.

Problems with dressing in the frail elderly.

OBJECTIVE: Dressing is an important activity of daily living, yet many older adults have difficulty due to impairments. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of assistive devices for dressing by older persons with impairments, and to look at differences among frail elders with no dressing difficulty, upper-extremity-only dressing difficulty, lower-extremity-only dressing difficulty, and both upper- and lower-extremity dressing difficulty. METHOD: We conducted in-home interviews and functional assessments with 1,101 elderly persons with activities of daily living and/or instrumental activities of daily living limitations in Western New York and Northern Florida. Participants were assigned to one of four groups based on Functional Independence Measure item scores for upper-extremity dressing and lower-extremity dressing. Descriptive statistics were used to report results. RESULTS: Compared to women, there were relatively more men with lower-extremity dressing difficulty than with upper-extremity dressing difficulty. The group with both upper- and lower-extremity dressing difficulty reported the highest level of pain and scored lowest on all measures of functional status and mental status. The most commonly used dressing devices were associated with lower-extremity dressing. CONCLUSION: There are differences in gender, health status, functional status, and mental status among elderly persons grouped by upper- or lower-extremity dressing difficulty. Results suggest that therapists should consider such differences as gender and type of difficulty (upper- or lower-extremity dressing) in both therapeutic approaches and recommendations for assistive devices. Pain is another important consideration, but it can often be reduced during dressing by using assistive devices.