Development of a French isometric strength normative database for adults using quantitative muscle testing

Abstract

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.