Martin Vigorimeter assesses muscle fatigability in older adults better than the Jamar Dynamometer

Our results suggest that the Martin Vigorimeter is a more appropriate handgrip device compared with the Jamar Dynamometer to assess muscle fatigability for older women across levels of frailty. When measured with the Martin Vigorimeter, high-frail participants show twice the level of fatigability compared to low-frail, whereas no difference was observed when using the Jamar Dynamometer. Older participants might stop the FR test prematurely when using the Jamar Dynamometer, before muscle fatigue is reached, indicating that the Jamar Dynamometer is unable to identify those participants with higher levels of muscle endurance. Martin Vigorimeter assessed muscle fatigability might be a good additional marker to include in frailty tools.