Hand grip strength assessment in older people: is the supine position valid and reliable?

Purpose Muscle strength evaluation is important in older people's functional assessment. We investigated the validity of grip strength measurement in a supine position as compared to the traditional one. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in older people hospitalized in a medical unit. Patients underwent measurements of grip strength in both supine and sitting positions. Agreement between results was evaluated using Pearson correlation and Infraclass correlation coefficient. The two measurements techniques were graphically compared with Bland-Altman plot. Results Forty four participants enrolled (21 females), mean age 80.6. Correlation coefficients demonstrated a strong positive relationship between the two different measurement positions (all values greater than 0.9). Results were consistent and similar across gender, body side and were not affected by cognitive impairment. Infraclass correlation analyses demonstrate a very good inter-rate reliability. Conclusions Grip strength assessed in the supine position can be considered a valid alternative in bedridden individuals.