Hiroki Tanikawa, RPT, MS, Masahiko Mukaino, MD, DMSc, Fumihiro Matsuda, RPT, MS, Keisuke Inagaki, RPT, MS, Kei Ohtsuka, RPT, DMSc, Hitoshi Kagaya, MD, DMSc, Eiichi Saitoh, MD, DMSc, Yoshikiyo Kanada, RPT, DMSc
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 6: 137-142, 2015
Objective: To investigate the influence of contralateral
lower limb function on hip abductor muscle strength
using a hand-held dynamometer.
Method: Thirty healthy subjects and fifty-nine
hemiplegic patients participated in this study. Hip
abductor muscle strength was measured in the supine
position with or without stabilization of the
contralateral lower limb (stabilizing vs. nonstabilizing
method, respectively). Strength as measured using
both methods was compared on each side for the lower
limb and correlation coefficients for the two methods
were calculated. In addition, correlation coefficients
between measurements of strength using the two
methods on both sides were calculated. In the
hemiplegic patients, multiple regression analysis was
performed using the strength on the affected side as
the dependent variable, and the strength on the
unaffected side and the degree of paralysis as
independent variables.
Results: Strength measured using the stabilizing
method was significantly lower than when using the
nonstabilizing method. The correlation between the
strength on both sides was high in the healthy subjects
despite contralateral lower limb stabilization, but low
in the hemiplegic patients when using the nonstabilizing
method. The strength on the affected side was strongly
influenced by the unaffected lower limb function in
measurements using the stabilizing method.
Discussion: Measurements of hip abduction strength
when using the stabilizing method are not an accurate
reflection of the strength due to the influence of
contralateral lower limb function.
Key words: hip abductor muscle strength, Hand-held dynamometer (HHD), hemiplegia, contralateral lower limb, stabilization