• Fahad Tanveer, Syed Asadullah Arslan, Haider Darain, and Ashfaq Ahmad.
• Dr. Fahad Tanveer, PhD (Scholar) University Institute of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2021 Mar 1; 37 (2): 461-465.

ObjectiveTo determine intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of hand-held dynamometer for assessing isometric lumbar muscle strength in asymptomatic healthy population.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study conducted at the department of physiotherapy, University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from July 2020 to August 2020 through non probability-purposive sampling technique. Thirty healthy subjects were tested at thirty-degree lumbar flexion and zero-degree lumbar extension positions. Two raters assessed isometric strength of lumbar flexor and extensor muscles, by a hand-held dynamometer. Strength was measured and recorded by each of the two raters and re-assessed after a week. Correlation and pairwise comparison were done between readings. ICC values were calculated for the assessment of isometric lumbar muscle strength using handheld dynamometer.ResultsA total of 30 healthy subjects had participated with mean age of 22.84±1.21 years, height 174.33±6.83 cm, weight 68.58±5.08 kg and BMI 22.52±0.35. Findings showed an excellent intra-rater (ICC 2, k = 0.95 to 0.97) and inter-rater (ICC 2, k = 0.94 to 0.95) reliability.ConclusionsHand held dynamometer demonstrated an excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability for assessment of isometric lumbar muscles strength of healthy subject at clinical setting as it is simple to use, portable and cost-effective for the precise measurement of lumbar muscles strength.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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