HAND GRIP FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (8) , 369-373
Abstract
A new electronic dynamometer was developed and used to determine hand grip function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Triplicate pressure-time recordings of grip for each hand were used to calculate maximum grip strength, time required to reach 95% maximum grip strength (t95), total work and maximum power output. Measurements were done on 30 women aged 32-74 yr (mean, 53 yr) who had rheumatoid arthritis, and 20 healthy women aged 37-69 yr (mean, 50 yr). Values obtained for patients and healthy women showed that the dominant hand was stronger than the nondominant hand in all women. Tests in patients with arthritis indicated decreased function and strength, the relative decrease being greater for nondominant hands compared to dominant hands. This new approach to measurement of hand grip function may provide better discrimination in the quantitative assessment of morning stiffness and response to changes in drug therapy. The t95 and maximum power outputs, in particular, appear to be more sensitive indicators of function than the standard maximum grip strength measurement.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: