ABSTRACT:
Background: A sphygmomanometer is a medical instrument which is normally used to measure blood pressure in an individual. This instrument has a potential of being used as a device for measuring isometric strength of muscles in the shoulder and to be used in clinical settings for this purpose.
Objective: To measure the validity and reliability of sphygmomanometer in assessing the isometric strength of shoulder flexor and abductor muscles.
Methods: A study was performed in which isometric strength of shoulder flexors and abductors of 30 university students who were healthy, was measured using a handheld dynamometer (HHD) and a commonly available sphygmomanometer. Isometric strength of right and left sides was measured. The values were analyzed for within day reliability, between days reliability and criterion validity.
Results: The results exhibited that the validity of the sphygmomanometer was excellent for shoulder abduction and flexion isometric strength measures of both right and left sides (Pearson’s r = 0.964-0.979). The sphygmomanometer showed good within day (ICC = 0.994-0.998) and between days (ICC = 0.993-0.998) intra-rater reliability for shoulder flexion and abduction of both sides. The within day and between days intra-rater reliability calculated for handheld dynamometer was also good. (ICC = 0.996-0.998 and ICC = 0.995-0.998 respectively).
Conclusion: A sphygmomanometer is an easily accessible instrument which is both inexpensive and present in most clinics which allows clinicians to analyze isometric shoulder strength providing objective values for assessment.
Arzish Ilyas, Ashfaq Ahmad, Syed Amir Gillani, Bazal Bukhari, Humna Gillani. (2019) The Validity and Reliability of a Sphygmomanometer in Assessing Isometric Muscle Strength of Shoulder Flexors and Abductors, , Volume 25, Issue 4.
