Using the force-time curve to detect maximal grip strength effort. J Hand Ther 2007;20(1):37-47; quiz 48
Date
01/27/2007Pubmed ID
17254907DOI
10.1197/j.jht.2006.10.006Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33846270702 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
Currently, there are no universally accepted assessment methods for detecting insincere effort during grip strength testing. We examined the validity of the slopes of the force-time curve (during force-generation and force-decay phases) as indicative of sincerity of effort. Thirty healthy subjects performed both maximal and submaximal grip strength trials. The test administrator was blinded as to the nature of the effort. A force-time curve was generated for each individual trial. The slopes of the force-generation phase and the force-decay phase were calculated. Both slopes were significantly steeper for the maximal than the submaximal efforts (p</=0.0001). Sensitivity and specificity analyses revealed that the slope of the force-generation phase was a more effective assessment of sincerity of effort for women, whereas the slope of the force-decay phase was a more effective assessment for men. The most notable finding was that for the force-decay phase, for slope cutoff values of -0.75 and -1.0, none of the men who exerted maximal effort were mistakenly identified as exerting a submaximal effort, whereas only 7% of the men who exerted submaximal effort were incorrectly identified as exerting a maximal effort. Thus, the slopes of the force-time curve are valid and effective in detecting sincerity of effort in healthy subjects. This study represents the first step in establishing the feasibility and validity of a new sincerity of effort assessment using the slopes of the force-time curve. Future research is needed to establish the validity and effectiveness of this sincerity of effort assessment in people with hand injury.
Author List
Shechtman O, Sindhu BS, Davenport PWAuthor
Bhagwant Sindhu BS,MS,PhD Assistant Professor in the Occupational Science & Technology department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Female
Hand Strength
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Strength Dynamometer
Physical Exertion
ROC Curve
