Evaluation isometric and isokinetic of trunk flexor and extensor muscles with isokinetic dynamometer: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the literature analyzing the reliability and characteristics of the protocols of isokinetic and isometric evaluation of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles with isokinetic dynamometer.

Methods: This is a systematic review using PubMed, CENTRAL, LILACS, PEDro and SCOPUS databases, searching the oldest records up to December 2019. The risk of bias, the methodological quality and the level of evidence were evaluated using the COSMIN checklist.

Results: Fourteen articles have met the criteria and have been included in this study. All the articles performed an isometric or isokinetic evaluation of the trunk muscles with the isokinetic dynamometer and presented an analysis of the protocol's reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Five articles had excellent reliability (0.93-0.98). Most of the studies presented doubtful and inconsistent psychometric values for reliability, because they used a short period between tests. The level of evidence to the fourteen selected articles for reliability was moderate.

Conclusions: Although the studies present limitations in methodological quality, it was possible to identify highly reliable patterns in the parameters employed and to present recommendations for the assessment of trunk flexor and extensor muscles in the isokinetic dynamometer, both for assessment in the sitting position and orthostatic.

Keywords: Isokinetic; Muscle strength dynamometer; Reproducibility of tests; Trunk.