ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to clarify the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the rate of force development in hip abductor muscle force measurements using a hand-held dynamometer. Thirty healthy adults were separately assessed by two independent raters on two separate days. Rate of force development was calculated from the slope of the force-time curve that was divided into four time intervals (50, 100, 200, and 300 ms). The highest values of the three trials were used for statistical analysis. The intra-class correlation coefficient with a 95% confidence interval, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level were calculated for each interval. For assessment of systematic error, Bland-Altman analysis was used. The results indicated that intra- and inter-rater reliability of the highest values at all intervals were sufficient (intra-class correlation coefficient > .7). The Bland-Altman analysis did not show systematic error in either reliability measure.
Acknowledgment
The authors appreciate the staff of the Department of Rehabilitation at Kawamura Hospital for their helpful technical assistance.
Disclosure of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest.