Predictors of muscle strength assessed with the modified sphygmomanometer test.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the best predictor of muscle strength assessed with both Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST) methods (bag adaptation and non-adapted) and to provide normative values for these two MST methods for the strength assessment of the trunk, upper, and lower limb muscles. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The strength of 42 muscle groups were assessed with the MST in the bag adaptation and non-adapted methods in 120 healthy individuals, 50 % males, divided into three age groups (20-39, 40-59, 60-79) with 40 subjects per group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate which independent variables (sex, age, and limb dominance) is the best predictor of muscle strength (α = 5 %). RESULTS: Sex was the best independent predictor for all muscle groups for both MST methods (8.8 % < R2<57.8 %, p < 0.0001), except for the ankle plantar flexors assed with the non-adapted sphygmomanometer, in which age was the best independent predictor (R2 = 25.6 %; p < 0.0001). The normative values of muscle strength were reported for both MST methods considering the subgroups (sex, age, and limb dominance). Ceiling effect was observed when the MST bag adaptation was used to assess some muscles (8.8 %). CONCLUSION: Sex was the best predictor of muscle strength, as commonly found for muscle strength assessment with the dynamometer. The normative values provided have high clinical utility and can be used to interpret results of muscle strength assessment using both MST methods. For the MST in the bag adaptation method, caution is advised for the assessment of some muscles.

Strength of the lower limb and trunk muscles is associated with gait speed in individuals with sub-acute stroke: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between measures of strength of the lower limb and trunk muscles and gait speed and to identify the muscle group that would best predict gait speed in individuals with sub-acute stroke. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional observational study design, forty-four individuals with sub-acute stroke (62 years, SD=14; 4 months, SD=1 post-stroke) were assessed. The evaluations were performed at a university laboratory, participants' homes, or community-based settings. Bilateral maximum isometric strength (hip, knee, and ankle flexors/extensors, hip abductors, trunk flexors/extensors, and trunk lateral flexors and rotators) was measured using a portable dynamometer. Comfortable and maximum gait speeds were measured using the 10-m walk test. RESULTS: Weak to moderate associations were found between measures of strength of the lower limb muscles and comfortable (0.36≤r≤0.53; p<0.05) and maximum (0.37≤r≤0.59; p<0.05) gait speeds, except for the non-paretic knee flexors and comfortable gait speed (p=0.06). Weak to moderate associations were also found between measures of strength of the trunk muscles and comfortable (0.39≤r≤0.50; p<0.05) and maximum (0.39≤r≤0.61; p<0.05) gait speeds. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the non-paretic dorsiflexors and the left lateral trunk flexors explained 29% and 42% of the variance in the maximum and comfortable gait speeds, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The strength of the lower limb and trunk muscles was positively associated with comfortable and maximum gait speeds. The muscle strength of the non-paretic dorsiflexors and the left lateral trunk flexors might have a role to play in determining comfortable and maximum gait speeds of individuals with sub-acute stroke.