Conclusion :  Objective muscle strength assessment  can be reliably used in lower and upper extremities in post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis
Background : Muscle weakness is the main cause of motor impairment among stroke survivors and is associated with reduced peak muscle torque .
Objective : To systematic ally investigate and organize the evidence of the reliability of muscle strength evaluation measures in post-stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis .
Reliability of Dynamic Muscle Performance in the Hemiparetic Upper Limb
We established reliability of upper-limb muscle performance in adults with post-stroke hemiparesis . Ten adults with post-stroke hemiparesis ( 51.5 ± 34 . 5 months ) performed isokinetic concentric shoulder flexion , elbow flexion , and extension at 3 criterion speeds ( 30 ° /s , 75 ° /s , and 120 ° /s ) on 3 separate occasions ( Days 1,7 , and 49 ) . As several participants were unable to reach criterion speeds , actual speed and power were also analyzed . Relative reliability ( intr-aclass correlation coefficient-ICC ) was excellent for torque and power ( 0.82 to 0.98 ) but less consistent for speed ( 0.63 to 0.99 ) . Absolute reliability ( st and ard error of measurement-%SEM ) ranged between 0 % to 34 % . No systematic errors were observed across sessions . Smallest real differences ( SRD ) ranged between 4–11Nm for torque and 3–24W for power . Shoulder flexion , elbow flexion , and elbow extension torque , speed , and power can be measured reliably following stroke . Given that many of these individuals demonstrate inability to generate torque at preselected speeds , power may be a more valid indicator of muscle performance
Conclusion :  Objective muscle strength assessment  can be reliably used in lower and upper extremities in post-stroke patients with chronic hemiparesis
Background : Muscle weakness is the main cause of motor impairment among stroke survivors and is associated with reduced peak muscle torque .
Objective : To systematic ally investigate and organize the evidence of the reliability of muscle strength evaluation measures in post-stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis .