You can spend a lot — well over a thousand dollars — trying to score the best handheld dynamometer. But, after researching the leading brands, our handheld dynamometer review and comparison finds that you can get a high-quality, clinic-ready device for under $300.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!And while there are around a dozen handheld dynamometer brands, you can quickly narrow your choice down to one or two.
Note: There are a number of HHDs, like the Meloq Easyforce [Amazon link], that we won’t review simply because they only record pulled weights. For the same price or less, you can get a device that registers push and pull, which is much more useful.
What is a Handheld Dynamometer?
A handheld dynamometer is primarily used for testing muscular force. At the most basic level, you hold the device to the part of a client’s body, ask them to hold the position, and then measure the amount of force they exerted before their strength gave way.
Most dynamometers measure:
- Test peak
- Average force
- Endurance strength
- Time to peak
- Rate of Force Development
Why Use a Handheld Dynamometer?
Handheld dynamometers have a number of uses for personal trainers, physical and occupational therapists, and any fitness instructor who wants to track increases in force production. Instead of sayings “feels stronger” or “looks better,” a dynamometer can demonstrate clear evidence.
This is a great way to track recovery from injury or increased force output due to exercise. Some models featured in our handheld dynamometer review and comparison have easy to use apps that let you send results to your clients.
If you’re learning to work hands on, a handheld dynamometer is an excellent way to practice the forces you’re applying. What does it feel like to exert 15 pounds of pressure? Take the guesswork out with a dynamometer.
This is recommended if you’re learning manual techniques like the Hesch Method or Muscle Activation Techniques.
Handheld Dynamometer versus Hand Dynamometer
Handheld dynamometer: held in your hand when you make various measurements of strength. They can test muscles in any limb. Brands include the Muscle Meter, Lafayette, Activforce 2, and Microfet 2.
Hand Dynamometer: These are device that measure grip strength only.
If you want to measure anything other than grip strength, you’ll need a handheld dynamometer.
Movement Assessment Technology’s Muscle Meter
To be to the point, Movement Assessment Technology’s Muscle Meter wins our highest recommendation. While it is not a simple decision, these are the features that we find make it highest in value and versatility:
- Actual push and pull functions (most competitors only have push, then use a strap for pulling forces)
- Big, clear LED screen
- Minimal buttons: that means fewer things that can malfunction
- By far the cheapest: presents real competition to devices that are 4x more expensive!
- Excellent, easy to use app (with lots of options)
- Produced by a company with a singular passion for accurate manual testing
Read our Movement Assessment Technologies’ (MAT) Muscle Meter Review for more reasons why the Muscle Meter is our top recommendation.
Movement Assessment Technology’s advertising calls the Muscle Meter the “most affordable” system on the market, and it is. It’s nearly $100 below the Activforce 2, and around $1000 below the Lafayette and Microfet 2 models.
The app, Measurz, is excellent (see below) but requires a subscription. While many may not be wild about that, Measurz is much more than a muscle testing app. It may save you money in the long run as you could potentially use it to consolidate your needs and cancel other subscriptions.
Potential disadvantages of the Muscle Meter:
- Subscription for app (if you want to use it) (but it’s an awesome app…see below)
- Relatively new to market, so no long-term testimonies to reliability
- Based in Australia, so you’ll need to pay for shipping and expect slightly longer wait time
That said, the benefits of the Muscle Meter really outweigh these potential disadvantages. And at its price point, you could buy 7 Muscle Meters with subscriptions for the price of one MicroFet 2 with software.
Measurz App
An enormous selling point for Muscle Assessment Technologies’ (MAT) Muscle Meter is the Measurz App. While this does add to the cost of the device (after the 2 month free trial), it has benefits beyond just muscle testing.
MAT is interested in assessment well beyond muscular force exertion. They have training for assessing speed, endurance, anaerobic activities, and more. With the Measurz app you can customize tests for clients, use voice-to-text feature to dictate notes, and use the built-in goniometer and stopwatch.
Another major selling point for Measurz is that, when you subscribe, you double your warranty length from 1 to 2 years. This is the longest standard warranty among the competitors.
ActivForce 2 Handheld Dynamometer Review
Our handheld dynamometer review also finds that the ActivForce 2 is an excellent value. Stand out features include:
- Includes multiple heads for testing and case
- Built in goniometer to track range of motion tests
- Free app that’s easy to use
- Very few buttons: that means less that can wear out over time
It comes with several pads and straps as well as a case. All you need to get started (plus your smartphone or tablet).
There are a few disadvantages to the Activforce 2:
- No screen at all. That means you always have to use an app. But that also means no screen that can crack or need to be replaced.
- Need to use isolation strap for pull testing (this is true of all but the Muscle Meter).
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ActivForce 2 App
The Activforce 2 app is easy to use and well designed. It is necessary to use with the Activforce 2 since the device has no screen. Communication is carried via Bluetooth, but you’d need an internet connection if you wanted to use the website for customizing reports.
Activeforc 2 versus MAT Muscle Meter
| Activforce 2 | Muscle Meter | |
|---|---|---|
| Tests available | Active and Passive Range of Motion (AROM & PROM) Peak Force Average Force Force over Time Force / Weight Ratio | Test peak Average force Endurance strength Time to peak Rate of Force Development |
| Included in basic package | ActivForce 2 device Rounded Pad Arched Pad Hand and Leg Straps Immobilization Belt Belt Loop Plate Carrying Case | Muscle Meter (300kg capacity) Pusher Cap (80kg capacity) Puller Pack (100kg capacity) USB Charger (5V max compatible) 2-Months FREE Measurz Trial Access |
| App information | Records test Free | Very detailed with many options 2 months free with purchase of unit, then $129/year or $12/month (+$6 additional team members) Read about Measurz app |
| Battery length | 6 to 12 months | USB rechargeable battery (can use additional AA for backup) |
| Other | Includes range of motion testing | Part of larger market of products promoting accuracy in manual testing, including in-depth training for manual testing |
| Warranty | 1 year | 12 months (24 months for Measurz users*) |
| User guide link | Activeforc 2 User Guide | Available only in portal, but see video |
| Price | $449 (use our link for 10% off!) | $239 (link) |
The Measurz app is very detailed and has a wide range of uses. You can customize it for any set of tests you like, track ranges of motion, and use for endurance and speed testing. As you can store information for clients and send them their results and notes, it stands to replace a number of other apps.
The ActiveForc 2 app is comparatively limited, including not allowing customized tests at the initial (free) level. That said, the app is free and gives easy access to its assessments of strength, range of motion, and test summaries.
Lafayette Handheld Dynamometer Review
The Lafayette handheld dynamometer [paid link] is one of the most popular dynamometers for clinical settings. It has been used for years, and reports well for durability over years of use.
Users love the screen that immediately shows results and can display graphs.
The Lafayette is most commonly compared to the MicroFET 2, which is also very commonly used in clinical settings. And while the Lafayette is slightly cheaper than the MicroFET2, it has many features that make it stand out.
| MicroFET2 | Lafayette | |
|---|---|---|
| Tests Available | -Peak force -Elapsed time | -Peak force -Time to reach peak force -Total test time -Average force -Real-time force -End force -Average force from peak to end -Percentage decrease from peak force to end force |
| Test Storage | Stores up to 30 tests | Stores up to 250 tests |
| What Comes with Order | -1 MicroFET2 handheld dynamometer -User’s Guide -3 diff. transducer pads -Wall pack power supply -Carrying Case -Calibration Certificate -Standard Warranty | -1 Lafayette Handheld Dynamometer -User’s Guide -3 diff. stirrups with algometer attachment -Battery Charger -Sanitary Covers -Carrying Case -Standard Warranty |
| User guide link | Microfet 2 User’s Guide | Lafayette User’s Guide |
| Best price available: from Amazon [affiliate link] Save extra 5% with Amazon Prime Credit Card |
The question then arises, does the Lafayette have advantages over cheaper models like the ActivForce 2 and MAT’s Muscle Meter? Here’s one review that compares the Lafayette and ActivForce 2:
Ultimately, you need to decide which device works best with your office, gym, or studio’s workflow. But given the concerns in the video above, the Muscle Meter would pose serious competition at around 1/5 of the cost of the Lafayette.
Specifications
- Size: 3.1″ x 5.11″ x 1.6″ (8.03 cm x 12.98 cm x 4.1 cm)
- Range: 0 – 300 lbs (136.1 kg, 1335 N, 9999 kPa)
- Accuracy: ± 1 % over full scale or ± 0.2 lbs
- Battery Life: 12 hours
- Data Storage Capacity: 250 tests
Lafayette Dynamometer App
The Lafayette hand dynamometer has an app called LEval.
It provides clear, readable graphs for tests and allows you to save client information.
The app is pretty simple with limited options,so much to get lost in here.
EVal has far fewer features than MAT’s Measurz app.
Access to the app can purchased as an add on to your device.
MicroFET 2
The MicroFET 2 is a long-standing presence in the handheld dynamometer world.
Its pluses are also its minuses: two screens, few buttons, no bells, no whistles.
This simple set up gives it very little that can go wrong mechanically.
It has a small size and looks like it could stand up to being dropped a few times.
For the same money the Lafayette, which has a larger screen that can show more results. However, the Lafeyette is cumbersome compared to the other models reviewed here.
Tips for buying a Handheld Dynamometer
If you’re feeling ready to make the purchase of a handheld dynamometer, here are some quick tips to consider:
- The more buttons, the more stuff that can break, malfunction, or underfunction
- The more that can be handled through firmware updates, the less you have to depend upon costly and/or time-consuming manual repairs
- In our research, there don’t seem to be many sales or discounts out there. There’s not much sense in waiting for holidays.
- Be aware that purchase of a used item is likely out of warranty
- Consider your office/gym flow. Will you be using this for quick tests to show the client, and then be done? Then you’ll want a screen showing results. Needing fuller reports? Make sure it has an app you like.
- Remember that accuracy of the device is nearly identical for all devices reviewed here (less than 1% error)
Are Handheld Dynamometers Accurate?
Every handheld dyamometer reviewed has tested for accuracy of 1% or below. So the devices themselves are very accurate.
The burden then lies on the tester; this is where the variability and potential for inaccurate testing situations arise. A properly conducted muscle strength test should be accurate provided that:
- Testing situations accurately reflect force exertion
- Tests are identically set up
Physio-pedia’s article on handheld dynamometers has some good advice there.
There is strong support from scientific literature for properly-conducted strength testing using handheld dynamometers. According to Keep et all (2016): “Manual muscle testing (MMT) is commonly used to assess muscle strength, but it is a subjective measure. A handheld dynamometer (HHD) gives a more objective measure than MMT and is more portable and affordable than an isokinetic dynamometer (IKD), which is considered the gold standard for muscle strength measurements.”
There is a tendency for high consistency for any individual conducting a series of test (intra-tester reliability). However not all testers use the exact same method, so inter-tester reliability can be low.
Other options
If you’re just looking to practice your force, you might try a cheap kitchen scale. In addition to measuring your force output, it also measures flour. Reward your practice with a cake afterwards!
If you just want to measure hand grip strength, there are reliable devices for that ranging between $20-200.
You’re advised to stay away from digital force scales, luggage scales, etc if you want to do reliable muscle testing.
Sources
Brinkmann JR. Comparison of a hand-held and fixed dynamometer in measuring strength of patients with neuromuscular disease. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1994 Feb;19(2):100-4. doi: 10.2519/jospt.1994.19.2.100. PMID: 8148862.
Chamorro C, Armijo-Olivo S, De la Fuente C, Fuentes J, Javier Chirosa L. Absolute Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Hand Held Dynamometry and Isokinetic Dynamometry in the Hip, Knee and Ankle Joint: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Open Med (Wars). 2017 Oct 17;12:359-375. doi: 10.1515/med-2017-0052. PMID: 29071305; PMCID: PMC5651404.
Keep H, Luu L, Berson A, Garland SJ. Validity of the Handheld Dynamometer Compared with an Isokinetic Dynamometer in Measuring Peak Hip Extension Strength. Physiother Can. 2016;68(1):15-22. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-62. PMID: 27504043; PMCID: PMC4961312.
Lu TW, Hsu HC, Chang LY, Chen HL. Enhancing the examiner’s resisting force improves the reliability of manual muscle strength measurements: comparison of a new device with hand-held dynamometry. J Rehabil Med. 2007 Nov;39(9):679-84. doi: 10.2340/16501977-0107. PMID: 17999004. Link
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Hand-held_Dynamometry
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