Test–retest reliabilities of hand-held dynamometer for lower-limb muscle strength in intellectual disabilities

• Hand-held dynamometer is a reliable measure of lower-limb muscle strength measurement in children with intellectual disabilities.
• Muscle strength was positively related to agility performance in disabilities.
• Height, weight, BMI, and activity level were significant predictors of muscle strength in disabilities.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the test–retest reliabilities of hand-held dynamometer (HDD) for measuring lower-limb muscle strength in intellectual disabilities (ID). The other purposes were to: (1) compare the lower-limb muscle strength between children with and without ID; (2) probe the relationship between the muscle forces and agility performance in ID; and (3) explore the factors associated with muscle strength in ID.Sixty-one participants (30 boys and 31 girls; mean age = 14.1 ± 3.3 year) were assessed by the HDD using a “make” test. The comparative group consisted of 63 typically developing children (33 boys and 30 girls; mean age = 14.9 ± 2.1 year). The ID group demonstrated lower muscle groups than in typically developing group. Except for the ankle plantarflexors (ICC = 0.69, SEM = 0.72), test–retest analysis showed good intrarater reliability with ICC ranging from 0.81 to 0.96, and intrarater SEM values ranged from 0.40 to 0.57. The HDD has the potential to be a reliable tool for strength measurement in ID. Muscle strength was positively related to agility performance. Regression analysis indicated that height, weight, BMI, and activity level were significant predictors of muscle strength in ID.