Abstract
A retrospective review of patient records was undertaken to establish the responsiveness of measurements of knee extension force obtained by hand-held dynamometry. Of particular interest was a minimal clinically important difference (MCID). A transition of dependence to independence in sit-to-stand was considered clinically important. Patients who experienced such a transition had a mean increase in bilateral knee extension force of 83 N(43%), whereas patients who remained dependent in sit-to stand demonstrated a decrease in bilateral knee extension force of 7 N (3%). Although a difference of 43% is contextual, it provides the first clue of an MCID in knee extension force indicative of responsiveness for the measurement.