Ankle dorsi- and plantar-flexion torques measured by dynamometry in healthy subjects from 5 to 80 years

作者：Moraux Amelie; C**** Aurelie; Ollivier Gwenn; Ledoux Isabelle; Doppler Valerie; Payan Christine; Hogrel Jean Yves^*

来源：BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2013, 14(1): 104.

DOI：10.1186/1471-2474-14-104

• Muscle strength
• Normative data
• Prediction model
• Outcome measures

Background: Ankle strength is often impaired in some of the most common neuromuscular disorders. Consequently, strength generated around this joint is important to assess, because it has a great impact on balance and gait. The objectives of this study were to establish normative data and predictive equations for both ankle dorsi- and plantar-flexion strength from a population of healthy subjects (children and adults), to assess the reliability of the measurements and to study the feasibility of using a novel dynamometer on a group of patients with a neuromuscular disorder.
Methods: Measurements of maximal isometric torque for dorsi- and plantar-flexion were performed on 345 healthy subjects from 5 to 80 years of age. The feasibility of the method was tested on nine patients diagnosed with type 2A limb girdle muscular dystrophy.
Results: The results documented normal strength values depending on gender and age on ankle dorsi- and plantar-flexion. The reliability of the technique was good with no evaluator effect and a small learning effect. The dynamometer was found suitable in the group of patients, even very weak.
Conclusions: The device developed was both reliable and accurate in assessing both ankle dorsi-flexion and plantar-flexion torque measurements from weak patients and children to strong healthy adults. Norms and predictive equations are provided for these two muscle functions.

• 出版日期2013-3-22