Assessment of muscle function gives vital clinical information to help with the diagnosis and treatment of individuals suffering from a variety of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. In the clinical setting, hand-held dynamometers are used to measure the muscle force output.

What are the benefits of using a hand-held dynamometer?

1. It is portable and easy to use 

2. It can be used to assess strength in different muscle groups

3. Immediate feedback: results are available instantly

4. It provides quantifiable data on muscle strength

5. HHDs offer consistent and reliable measurements

How to use the hand held dynamometer, and what should we remember while testing?

When using the hand held dynamometer, it is important to consider whether the patient is in a proper position, the device is calibrated, the instructions to the patient should be clear, and the results should be documented properly.

Watch this clip below to know the procedure of testing with a hand held dynamometer:

What are the compensatory movements that we need to look out for?

1. Wrist extension 

2. Triceps extension 

3. Dumping (anterior tilting the shoulder)

4. Dropping the elbow 

How to monitor the score?

There should be a 5-10 % consistency with testing scores. During the retests in further consults, if the score drops by 30%, then we need to investigate further. Conversely, if the score increases by 30% then there's a significant improvement in muscle strength.

Source:
1. From the lecture 'Shoulder Testing and Return to Sport' by Ben Onofrio.