Development of a French Isometric Strength Normative Database for Adults Using Quantitative Muscle Testing

Abstract 

Hogrel J-Y, Payan CA, Ollivier G, Tanant V, Attarian S, Couillandre A, Dupeyron A, Lacomblez L, Doppler V, Meininger V, Tranchant C, Pouget J, Desnuelle C. Development of a French isometric strength normative database for adults using quantitative muscle testing.

Objective

To establish a normative database for isometric strength measured by quantitative muscle testing (QMT) for a French adult population.

Design

Measurement of maximal voluntary isometric contraction.

Setting

Four clinical centers involved in neuromuscular disorders.

Participants

A total of 315 healthy adults (147 men, 168 women) ages 20 to 80 years.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

Isometric torque values of 14 muscle functions (13 bilaterally and neck).

Results

This study led to the development of a French isometric strength normative database for adults measured by QMT. For each muscle function, predictive regression models using age, sex, and weight are proposed. Some methodologic issues concerning strength measurement are discussed.

Conclusions

This database can be used to compute relative deficits in muscle strength for 27 muscle functions and also to estimate composite scores for follow-up of patients either during the natural history of their disease or during a therapeutic trial.

Key Words: Isometric contraction, Muscles, Outcome assessment (health care), Rehabilitation