Reliability of isometric neck and shoulder muscle strength measurements between symptomatic and asymptomatic female office workers using a hand-held dynamometer

Nuttika Nakphet; Montakarn Chaikumarn

Authors

Nuttika Nakphet Faculty of Physical Therapy and Sport Medicine, Rangsit University, Pathumtani 12000, Thailand
Montakarn Chaikumarn Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Keywords:

hand-held dynamometer, neck and shoulder muscle, office workers, reliability, strength measurement, symptomatic

Abstract

In order to evaluate neck/shoulder muscle function in asymptomatic and symptomatic office workers, it is necessary to develop clinical tests that can be applied in the clinical settings without using complicated instruments and the workers can be tolerate for the resistance. However, there was a lack of evidence in the reliability of isometric maximal strength by using the method of hand-held dynamometer (HHD) specifically in the female office workers. The objective of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-tester reliability of neck/shoulder strength measurement using a HHD among asymptomatic and symptomatic office workers. A HHD was used to evaluate neck and shoulder strength in 15 asymptomatic and 15 symptomatic office workers. The maximal isometric strength was tested in cervical flexor, extensor, and lateral flexor; and the right shoulder muscles as upper trapezius, lower trapezius and anterior deltoid, using both hands to apply isometric resistance for 5 seconds for each. The test was taken twice for 3-7 days. The maximal force of 3 trials for each test position was used for statistical analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intra-tester reliability (ICC_{3, 1}) showed moderate to high reliability ranging from 0.70 to 0.94 for all test directions from trial 1 to trial 2. High inter-tester reliability (ICC_{2, 1}) between 2 assessors with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), ranging from 0.84 to 0.96. The result indicated that a HHD is a reliable tool for assessing the maximal isometric test of the neck and shoulder muscles in office workers with and without neck/shoulder symptoms.

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