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Strength Isometric Test: Knee Extension

strength-isometric Jul 08, 2023
 

To test knee extension isometric strength with a Muscle Meter, you can follow these steps:

  1. If the massage table allows it, anchor the leg and ankle strap to the supporting structure underneath the table. 
  2. Have the client loop their foot through the slack and have them sitting upright on the long edge of the massage table, with their knee resting in less than 20 degrees of extension.
  3. Once set, queue the client to extend their knee as best as they can, holding for 2-3 seconds to achieve peak force production.
  4. As soon as the client has done this, hit save on the Measurz app and compare to the other side.

It's important to note that proper training and experience with muscle meter are necessary to obtain accurate and reliable results. Additionally, ensure that the patient is in a comfortable and stable position, and that the muscle meter is applied consistently each time to ensure consistent and reliable results.

Normative data for isometric knee extension strength with a handheld dynamometer varies depending on the population being tested and the specific dynamometer used. However, here are some general normative values for knee extension strength in adults:

Young Adults (18–35 years) 

  Males 45–68 kg - typically 50–75% of body weight.

  Females 22–45 kg - typically 35–60% of body weight.

Older Adults (65+ years) 

  Males 18–34 kg - typically 30–50% of body weight.

  Females 11–23 kg - typically 20–40% of body weight.

 

For bodyweight-normalized strength:

  <40% of body weight: May indicate weakness or pathology.

  >60% of body weight: Indicates good strength, typically seen in healthy adults.

  Healthy young adults: ~0.45–0.6 kg per kg of body weight.

  Older adults: ~0.2–0.4 kg per kg of body weight.

 

References:

  1. Bohannon RW. Reference values for extremity muscle strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from adults aged 20 to 79 years. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1997;78(3):26-32.
  2. Clark BC, Manini TM, Bolanowski SJ, et al. Relative safety of 4 weeks of blood flow-restricted resistance exercise in young, healthy adults. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(5):653-662.
  3. Kruse RL, Shurtz J, Miles T, Maly MR. Examination of knee extension strength measures: Handheld dynamometry compared to an isokinetic dynamometer. Knee. 2011;18(6):417-421.
  4. Reid DA, McNair PJ. Effects of an anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention program on performance in adolescent female soccer players. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2011;21(3):e542-e548.

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