Test-Retest Reliability of Functional Electromechanical Dynamometer on Five Sit-to-Stand Measures in Healthy Young Adults

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability for the strength and movement velocity of the concentric phase from the five Sit-to-Stand (5STS), using three incremental loads measured by a functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) in healthy young adults. Methods: The average and peak strength and velocity values of sixteen healthy adults (mean +/- standard deviation (SD): age = 22.81 +/- 2.13 years) were recorded at 5, 10 and 15 kg. To evaluate the reliability of FEMD, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV) were obtained. Results: Reliability was high for the 10 kg (CV range: 3.70-4.18%, ICC range: 0.95-0.98) and 15 kg conditions (CV range: 1.64-3.02%, ICC: 0.99) at average and peak strength, and reliability was high for the 5 kg (CV range: 1.71-2.84%, ICC range: 0.96-0.99), 10 kg (CV range: 0.74-1.84%, ICC range: 0.99-1.00) and 15 kg conditions (CV range: 0.79-3.11%, ICC range: 0.99-1.00) at average and peak velocity. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate that FEMD is a reliable instrument to measure the average and peak strength and velocity values during the five STS in healthy young adults.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that the functional electromechanical dynamometer (FEMD) is reliable for measuring the average and peak strength and velocity values during the five Sit-to-Stand tests in healthy young adults. Reliability was found to be high for both strength and velocity measurements across different loads, indicating the utility of FEMD in assessing lower limb function.