Affiliations: [a] Physical Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA | [b] Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Charles
University Prague, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Prague, Czech
Republic | [c] Biomedical Laboratory, Faculty of Physical Education
and Sport, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic | [d] Centre of Gerontology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles
University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Note: [] Corresponding author: Richard Bohannon, Physical Therapy
Program, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We sought to: 1) describe a new procedure for
measuring hip extension strength and 2) examine the convergent and known-groups
validity of measurements obtained using the procedure. METHOD: Forty women (72–98 years) volunteered for this cross-sectional, observational study
of muscle strength and mobility. Hip extension strength as well as hip flexion
and knee extension and flexion strengths were measured using a hand-held
dynamometer (HHD). Hip extension strength was measured while participants were
supine and the HHD was positioned under their slightly elevated distal leg.
Participants were dichotomized as independent or dependent in sit-to-stand and
walking. RESULTS: Hip extension strength was measured without difficulty
or untoward effects. Relative to other ipsilateral measures of hip and knee
strength, hip extension strength was found to correlate significantly (r=0.345–0.584),
to be internally consistent (alpha=0.785 and 0.751), and to
load strongly (0.733 and 0.705) on a common construct-lower limb strength. Hip
extension strength (left+right/body weight) discriminated (albeit weakly)
between known groups, that is, participants who were dependent versus
independent in sit-to-stand and walking. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings we recommend this procedure for measuring hip extension strength in
older adults.
