Reliability and Validation of New Manual Dynamometer to Measure Lower Limb Strength

INTRODUCTION: There are several ways to assess muscle strength: not only subjective ways, but also high standard equipment, such as isokinetic dynamometers. These, however, are expensive, and require extensive training. Over the years, manual dynamometers were produced, portable equipment that simplify its use. Among them, a national equipment was developed, but its reliability and validation are yet to be confirmed, compared to equipment already used, such as the Lafayette®. OBJECTIVE: Assess the reliability of a new manual dynamometer - Medeor® device (SP Tech model) -, in relation to the gold standard, Lafayette® device (model 01165), already validated, in the evaluation of muscle strength of the knee and hip groups. METHODS: A total of 26 recruits of both sexes were selected. Muscle strength was measured by Lafayette® and Medeor® dynamometers in the following groups: knee flexors and extensors; flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors, hips internal and external rotators. Each data was collected 3 times, and then the average was calculated.