PERFORMANCE-CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KIN-COM(R) DYNAMOMETER

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the pe rformance characteristics of a Kin-Com(R) dynamometer (model #500-11) under controlled conditions. Methods. Comparisons were made between me asurments of force, angle, and velocity obtained from the Kin-Com(R) a nd measurements acquired from an external recording system of known we ights, angles, and user-set velocities. The strength of the linear rel ationships between measurements obtained with the different recording systems was analyzed using a coefficient of determination (r2). An int raclass correlation coefficient (ICC[2,1]) was used to examine the rel iability of the force, angle, and velocity measurements obtained with each recording system on 2 different days. Results. In all conditions, the coefficient of determination for the force, angle, and velocity c omparisons was above .99. The ICC for between-day comparisons for all force, angle, and velocity measurements was above .99. Conclusion and Discussion. Our results indicate that the static measurements of force and angle that are necessary for use in the gravity-correction proced ure and isometric testing are accurate and replicable between days. Th e Kin-Com(R) dynamometer's control system regulating lever arm velocit y is also accurate and replicable under a no-load condition. It was as certained during the velocity testing that the use of any acceleration and deceleration mode other than ''high'' resulted in a loss of excur sion of the lever arm.