One-repetition maximum can be estimated with a handheld dynamometer and circumference in community-dwelling older adults.
Masatoshi Nakamura, Ryosuke Kiyono, Shigeru Sato and 2 others
PMID 33132528WHAT IT FOUND
For older adults, knee strength (1RM) can be estimated using a handheld dynamometer and thigh circumference.
The predicted values matched actual measurements closely, offering a safe, low-cost alternative to heavy gym equipment for prescribing resistance training.
Key findings
01Handheld dynamometer measurements of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) showed the strongest correlation with actual one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength.
02A prediction formula using MVIC, age, gender, and thigh circumference accurately estimated 1RM, with no significant difference between measured and predicted values.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it does not prove that using this estimated 1RM to guide training actually improves strength or muscle mass. The sample was small (28 participants) and restricted to community-dwelling older adults who could walk independently, so results may not apply to frailer or institutionalized populations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no specific funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this formula works for all older adults or other body parts. It was validated only for knee extensions in relatively healthy, community-dwelling older adults, and its effectiveness for guiding actual training programs has not yet been tested.