Affiliations: [a] University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School
Note: [*] Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Department, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Note: [**] Address reprint requests to Ms. Capuano-Pucci at the Physical Therapy Department, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064.
Note: [***] Physical therapy students, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Note: [****] Physical therapy students, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Note: [*****] Physical therapy students, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Note: [******] Physical therapy students, University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different body positions on the force generated by elbow flexor and extensor muscles. The Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester, a hand-held dynamometer, was used to measure the force generated by the muscles. A random sample of 28 healthy subjects was tested by a single examiner. Each muscle group was tested with gravity eliminated and with the subjects sitting and supine. The dynamometer was positioned on the extremity and a break test was performed. The data were analyzed using the two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures. A significant difference in the force generated by the muscles was noted between positions (p < 0.05) for both elbow flexors and extensors. Alterations in body position appear to influence the amount of force generated by the elbow flexor and extensor muscles.
Keywords: Muscle force, dynamometer, gravity-eliminated body positions
