Validity and reliability of Squegg device in measuring isometric handgrip strength.

OBJECTIVE: The quantitative measurement of handgrip strength is important in assessing and charting the progress of patients with neuromuscular diseases. The aim of this research was to determine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability and the validity of the Squegg digital dynamometer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one females and nine male participants with an age range between 18 and 40 years volunteered for the study. Three testers each took three measurements with a Squegg device and a Jamar dynamometer using standardized measurement techniques. Intra- and inter-tester reliability were calculated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). To investigate the relationship between hand measures and isometric handgrip strength, the Pearson correlation coefficient test was used. To determine the agreement between the two devices, a Bland Altman plot was constructed, and the concurrent validity of Squegg was calculated. RESULTS: The intra-rater reliability coefficients for both Jamar and Squegg were greater than 0.99 for all three testers, indicating excellent intra-rater reliability. The inter-rater reliability of Jamar (ICC=0.93) and Squegg (ICC=0.87) was excellent. With an ICC of 0.844 and an r-value of 0.720, Squegg with Jamar demonstrates good validity and statistical significance (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The isometric handgrip strength and hand measures showed a moderate correlation in the study population. The Squegg isometric handgrip dynamometer has good concurrent validity and great intra- and inter-rater reliability in healthy individuals. The validity of Squegg in patients with neuromuscular diseases that affect hand function has to be investigated further.

Development and cross-cultural adaptation of the vestibular disorders activities of daily living scale in the kannada language and testing its psychometric properties.

Background: Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL) is a self-reported survey for assessing functions of individuals affected by vestibular disorders, and this survey has been translated and cross-culturally adapted into many languages. Objective: : Kannada is one of the most-spoken languages in India, with approximately 64 million speakers. We aimed to develop the Kannada version of VADL and to assess its psychometric properties. Materials and Methods: The translation and adaptation of the English version of VADL into Kannada were accomplished with the input of medical professional language experts. Pretesting of the Kannada VADL (VADL-K) was conducted on 30 patients with vestibular disorders. Six professional experts with medical background provided their opinion during the content validation process of VADL-K, and 50 subjects aged between 30 and 70 years with variant vestibular disorders were administered VADL-K and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory to determine the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity of this assessment. Results: This study effectively translated, adapted, and pretested VADL-K. The scale's content validity was 0.95, its internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = α) was 0.94, its test-retest reliability with Intra Class- Correlation Coefficient was 0.97, and its concurrent validity in comparison with DHI was significant, with a moderate correlation r-value of 0.58. Conclusion: The English version of VADL was successfully translated and adapted into the Kannada language. VADL-K is a valid and reliable measure for patients with vestibular disorders in the state of Karnataka to report their functional performance.

Evaluation of psychometric properties of the segmental assessment of trunk control (SATCo) in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) is a scientific evaluation measure used to assess trunk control in subjects with cerebral palsy (CP). AIMS: The present study aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of SATCo in children with spastic quadriplegic CP. METHODOLOGY: This was an observational study in which we validated a test instrument in 31 children (aged 1-5 years) with spastic quadriplegic CP. Children were assessed for trunk control by principal rater (R1) using SATCo. Each assessment was video recorded, scored retrospectively, and independently by principal rater (R2) and secondary rater (R3) for intra-rater and inter-rater reliability, respectively. Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing the SATCo scores with sitting component scores of Gross Motor Functional Measure -88. RESULTS: Intra-class correlation coefficient values for intra-rater and inter-rater reliability for various components of the scale ranged from 0.82 to 0.98. The concurrent validity was calculated for various components of the scale using the Pearson correlation coefficient and they ranged from 0.72 to 0.77. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: SATCo is a reliable and valid scale that can be used for examining trunk control in children with spastic quadriplegic CP aged 1-5 years.

Normative reference values for the timed up-and-go test in Indian children aged four to 11 years old and their correlation with demographic characteristics: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The timed up-and-go test (TUGT) is a quick, reliable, and valid assessment tool for evaluating functional mobility or dynamic balance. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to establish the normative values for TUGT in children aged 4 to 11 years old in Surat, India. METHODS: A total of 420 children (210 boys and 210 girls) were included. Subjects were divided into seven age groups. In each age group, 60 (30 males and 30 females) subjects were included. Subjects were randomly recruited from primary schools and underwent three trials of the TUGT. Then, the mean of the three TUGT trials was calculated for each participant. RESULTS: We formulated normative reference values for each of the seven age groups. The mean and standard deviation of the TUGT score across the total population was 6.00 ± 1.15 seconds. TUGT scores were compared between age groups and genders. Between boys and girls, we found no significant differences. Among the age groups, however, we found significant differences, with a P value of less than 0.001. Thus, only age showed a moderate negative correlation with TUGT score. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides normative reference values for the TUGT among Indian children aged four to 11 years old. We found that no differences existed between the TUGT results according to genders. Conversely, age had a moderate negative correlation: a comparison of TUGT scores among the ages revealed significant differences between the age groups.

Normative reference values for functional, lateral, and oblique direction reach tests in Saudi children aged six to 15 years old and psychometric properties of the oblique direction reach test.

AIMS: To establish normative values for functional, lateral, and Oblique Direction Reach Tests (ODRT) and to assess the validity and reliability of the ODRT in Saudi children of age 6-15 years. METHODS: Three hundred Saudi children of age 6-15 years children were recruited by using snowball sampling. Children were measured for distance reached in forward, lateral, and oblique direction on a graph paper, which was mounted on a wall/cardboard. RESULTS: The Mean ± SD for forward, lateral and oblique direction reach was 25.63 ± 6.95, 18.91 ± 5.66, 22.08 ± 5.98 cm respectively. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient values of intra and inter-rater reliability of ODRT shown to be 0.94 and 0.91, respectively. Concurrent validity of ODRT with forward and lateral reach test is 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. CONCLUSION: : We established the normal values for functional, lateral, and ODRT in 6-15 years of Saudi children. We found that ODRT is a valid and reliable for measuring limits of stability in oblique direction.

Effects of patient-specific three-dimensional lumbar traction on pain and functional disability in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc is one of the most prevalent causes of low back pain and traction is one of the most common physical therapy treatments offered to affected patients. Advancements in traction equipment are needed to ensure their effectiveness in clinical situations. AIMS: The objective of the study was to find out the effect of patient-specific three-dimensional lumbar traction on pain and functional disability in individuals with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Original article and Experimental design. Twenty-five participants (age range: 34-67 years) diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse were included in this study. Patient-specific three-dimensional lumbar traction was given as three sessions per week for the duration of one month. All participants completed a 10-cm visual analog pain scale and pain pressure threshold to assess pain and the Oswestry disability index to assess the functional disability. RESULTS: On pre to post interventions, a significant change in mean values were found for visual analog scale pain score, pain pressure threshold, and Oswestry disability index (P < 0.001). The pain intensity was reduced from 8.5 to 3.2, pain pressure threshold increased from 0.7 to 1.6 kg/cm2, and functional disability was reduced from 53.5% to 31.3%. CONCLUSION: Twelve sessions of patient-specific three-dimensional lumbar traction promoted a reduction in pain and improvement in functional disability among subjects with lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse.