Intertester reliability of manual muscle strength testing in leprosy patients

摘要

This study reports the results of a study on the intertester reliability of manual muscle strength testing in leprosy patients with confirmed motor function loss of at least one nerve. Three testers graded the muscle strength of 72 patients in random order. Both hands and feet were graded. Strength was graded on a modified Medical Research Council Scale (9 points, 5, 4+, 4, 3+, 3, 2+, 2, 1, 0). The following Movements were tested for strength: little finger and index finger abduction, intrinsic position of all four fingers, thumb abduction and opposition, foot dorsiflexion and eversion and extension of the big toe.