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The Journal of Hand Surgery Feb 2023The Thumb Grasp and Pinch Assessment (T-GAP) is a new instrument for evaluating thumb use in children with congenital hypoplastic thumbs. The assessors video-record the...
PURPOSE
The Thumb Grasp and Pinch Assessment (T-GAP) is a new instrument for evaluating thumb use in children with congenital hypoplastic thumbs. The assessors video-record the children while they perform nine specific activities and score their grasp types using T-GAP. A high T-GAP score indicates more mature grasp patterns. The developers reported the instrument's validity and reliability for index finger pollicization. This study investigated T-GAP's validity and reliability in children with reconstructed hypoplastic thumbs.
METHODS
Four hand surgeons and two hand therapists from two hospitals rated video clips of 20 Manske type II and IIIa hands twice in 17 patients who performed the T-GAP at least 1 year after opposition transfer and thumb ligament reconstruction. To investigate the validity, we calculated correlation coefficients for T-GAP scores and clinical outcomes, including thumb ROM, grip and pinch strength, and visual analog assessments of thumb function and appearance. To estimate T-GAP's inter- and intrarater reliability, we calculated intraclass correlation coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Thumb Grasp and Pinch Assessment score showed a strong linear correlation (r = 0.815-0.944) and a moderate to strong nonlinear correlation (ρ = 0.527-0.744) with visual analog scale assessments of thumb function and appearance, respectively; a moderate nonlinear correlation (ρ = 0.464) with grip strength; and a moderate nonlinear correlation (ρ = 0.541) with thumb MCP joint range of motion. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the interrater reliability was 0.892 (95% CI, 0.768-0.954) in round 1 and 0.898 (95% CI, 0.754-0.959) in round 2, and for intrarater reliability, the mean was 0.882 (95% CI, 0.785-0.980).
CONCLUSIONS
Thumb Grasp and Pinch Assessment score had a moderate to strong construct validity and a moderate concurrent validity. Both inter- and intrarater reliability was strong.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
This study supports the T-GAP instrument's validity and reliability for assessing functional outcomes in congenital hypoplastic thumb reconstruction.
PubMed: 36775792
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2022.12.017 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Aug 2023To evaluate immediate and long-term effect of texting or handwriting on hand-grip and key-pinch strength among healthy female students. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate immediate and long-term effect of texting or handwriting on hand-grip and key-pinch strength among healthy female students.
METHODS
The single-blind, randomised controlled trial was conducted between February and April 2021 after approval from the ethics review committee of the College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia, and comprised female Physio Therapy students aged 19-23 years who were right-hand dominant and had normal body mass index. The subjects used smartphones and electronic gadgets for >2hrs daily, writing more than 10min/day. They were randomised using sealed envelopes into five groups. Group A practised 10min texting, group B 15min texting, group C 10min writing, group D 15min writing, and group E used the phones only for talking or watching, with no texting or writing, and was taken as the control group. Hand-grip strength and key- pinch strength were assessed one minute before starting, and within one minute after having finished the assigned hand activity. All measurements were recorded in the sitting position using a single hand-grip dynamometer. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.
RESULTS
Of the 65 individuals assessed, 60(92.3%) were initially enrolled, but the study was finished by 50(83.3%) subjects with a mean age of 20.88±0.98 years and mean body mass index 20.8±2.30kg/m2. There were 12(24%) subjects in group A, 7(14%) in group B, 12(24%) in group C, 10(20%) in group D and 9(18%) in group E. The association of the time-based groups with hand-grip and key-pinch strength was not significant (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Texting and handwriting did not have any significant immediate effect on hand- grip or key-pinch strength.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER
(NCT04810416).
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Young Adult; Body Mass Index; Hand Strength; Handwriting; Single-Blind Method; Text Messaging
PubMed: 37697745
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.1577 -
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and... Jun 2021Clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) focus primarily on ambulant patients. Results cannot be extrapolated to later disease stages due to a decline in...
BACKGROUND
Clinical trials in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) focus primarily on ambulant patients. Results cannot be extrapolated to later disease stages due to a decline in targeted muscle tissue. In non-ambulant DMD patients, hand function is relatively preserved and crucial for daily-life activities. We used quantitative MRI (qMRI) to establish whether the thenar muscles could be valuable to monitor treatment effects in non-ambulant DMD patients.
METHODS
Seventeen non-ambulant DMD patients (range 10.2-24.1 years) and 13 healthy controls (range 9.5-25.4 years) underwent qMRI of the right hand at 3 T at baseline. Thenar fat fraction (FF), total volume (TV), and contractile volume (CV) were determined using 4-point Dixon, and T2 was determined using multiecho spin-echo. Clinical assessments at baseline (n = 17) and 12 months (n = 13) included pinch strength (kg), performance of the upper limb (PUL) 2.0, DMD upper limb patient reported outcome measure (PROM), and playing a video game for 10 min using a game controller. Group differences and correlations were assessed with non-parametric tests.
RESULTS
Total volume was lower in patients compared with healthy controls (6.9 cm , 5.3-9.0 cm vs. 13.0 cm , 7.6-15.8 cm , P = 0.010). CV was also lower in patients (6.3 cm , 4.6-8.3 cm vs. 11.9 cm , 6.9-14.6 cm , P = 0.010). FF was slightly elevated (9.7%, 7.3-11.4% vs. 7.7%, 6.6-8.4%, P = 0.043), while T2 was higher (31.5 ms, 30.0-32.6 ms vs. 28.1 ms, 27.8-29.4 ms, P < 0.001). Pinch strength and PUL decreased over 12 months (2.857 kg, 2.137-4.010 to 2.243 kg, 1.930-3.339 kg, and 29 points, 20-36 to 23 points, 17-30, both P < 0.001), while PROM did not (49 points, 36-57 to 44 points, 30-54, P = 0.041). All patients were able to play for 10 min at baseline or follow-up, but some did not comply with the study procedures regarding this endpoint. Pinch strength correlated with TV and CV in patients (rho = 0.72 and rho = 0.68) and controls (both rho = 0.89). PUL correlated with TV, CV, and T2 (rho = 0.57, rho = 0.51, and rho = -0.59).
CONCLUSIONS
Low thenar FF, increased T2 , correlation of muscle size with strength and function, and the decrease in strength and function over 1 year indicate that the thenar muscles are a valuable and quantifiable target for therapy in later stages of DMD. Further studies are needed to relate these data to the loss of a clinically meaningful milestone.
Topics: Hand; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne
PubMed: 33963807
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12711 -
Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online Jul 2023The lacertus fibrosus or bicipital aponeurosis is a sheet of ligamentous tissue just distal to the elbow joint and can be a compression point for the median nerve....
PURPOSE
The lacertus fibrosus or bicipital aponeurosis is a sheet of ligamentous tissue just distal to the elbow joint and can be a compression point for the median nerve. Essentially, lacertus syndrome is a subset of pronator syndrome and an uncommon diagnosis by itself. Surgical release of the lacertus consists of a small 2-cm incision that can be performed under local anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of lacertus release in resolving median nerve symptoms.
METHODS
This retrospective study was performed at Prince Court Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from January 2020 until June 2021. Ninety-three patients who presented with numbness of fingers, hand, or upper limb; forearm pain; and muscle weakness. They were diagnosed with lacertus syndrome on the basis of local tenderness at the lacertus fibrosus with either weakness of flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus of the index finger or paresthesia over the thenar eminence. The patients underwent 3 months of hand therapy, and those with no symptom improvement were offered lacertus release performed by a single surgeon. The surgical technique consists of a surgical incision starting from a point 2 cm distally and 2 cm radially to the medial epicondyle. The incision projects 2 cm distally in an oblique fashion toward the radial styloid. A wideawake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technqiue was utilized and 20 mL of local anesthesic was injected subcutaneously around this region at least 20 minutes before the surgery. Careful dissection was made subcutaneously, and the lacertus fibrosus was identified as a thickened, shiny white structure and released. The Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, grip strength, and pinch strength were tested before and after surgery. At 6 months after surgery, the DASH score was again assessed with a WALANT satisfactory questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 93 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 38.7 years, and most were women (77.4%). The mean operating time was 70 minutes. The mean preoperative DASH score was 53, which significantly reduced immediately after surgery to 7.8 ( < .001) and remained low at 6 months after surgery (10.6). The mean grip strength showed a significant increase from a preoperative mean of 16 kg to a postoperative mean of 24 kg ( < .001). Pinch strength also significantly increased from a preoperative mean of 9 kg to 13 kg after surgery ( < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Lacertus syndrome remains an underdiagnosed disease that can be treated efficiently with a directed minimal surgical incision under wide-awake local anesthesia. Lacertus release appears to significantly reduce pain and numbness with markedly improved hand grip and pinch strength. The corresponding DASH scores also improved significantly after surgery. This study is vital to our understanding of proximal median nerve entrapment and to accurately diagnose it.
TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic III.
PubMed: 37521562
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2023.03.001 -
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (Hong... 2020Gripping and pinching a ball is a fundamentally important part of the kinetic chain for throwing baseball pitches of various types. This study of high school pitchers...
OBJECTIVE
Gripping and pinching a ball is a fundamentally important part of the kinetic chain for throwing baseball pitches of various types. This study of high school pitchers was conducted to assess the association between grip and pinch strength, the pitch type, and the history of elbow symptoms.
METHODS
We examined 133 high school baseball pitchers, all of whom had completed a self-administered questionnaire including items related to pitch type throwing ratios, the age at starting each pitch type, and throwing-related elbow joint pain sustained during the prior 3 years. We measured grip strength and the bilateral side tip, key, and palmar pinch strengths. Comparisons were made between the participants with and without an elbow symptom history to assess the grip and each pinch strength, throwing ratio of pitch type, and the age at starting to throw each pitch type.
RESULTS
Pitchers with an elbow symptom history exhibited less difference between the grip strength on the throwing side than those with no elbow symptom history ( = 0.04). No difference was found between participants with and without an elbow symptom history in terms of pinch strength, the throwing ratios of pitch types, or the age at starting to throw pitches of each type. Positive significant association was found between pinch strength on the pitching side and the forkball and screwball throwing ratio ( = 0.27, = 0.002).
CONCLUSION
Grip strength might influence high school baseball pitcher elbow conditions. The frequency of certain pitch types might develop pinch strength in high school baseball pitchers.
Topics: Adolescent; Arthralgia; Athletic Performance; Baseball; Biomechanical Phenomena; Elbow Joint; Hand Strength; Humans; Pinch Strength; Range of Motion, Articular; Schools; Youth Sports
PubMed: 31986969
DOI: 10.1177/2309499019890743 -
Indian Journal of Occupational and... 2021The repetitive and prolonged exertion of grip and pinch strength are current among carpet weaver tasks. The three objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the...
BACKGROUND
The repetitive and prolonged exertion of grip and pinch strength are current among carpet weaver tasks. The three objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the relationship between symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and grip and pinch strength of carpet weavers in carpet weaving workshops in Kerman province, (2) to compare the grip and pinch strength of carpet weavers with normal values, and (3) to identify the relationship between hand postures of carpet weavers during work and force exertion.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, grip strength and key, tip and palmar pinch strengths of 101 female carpet weavers aged 20 to 71 years were measured in Kerman province, in 2018. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Extended version) was also used to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders.
RESULTS
Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses showed that participants who suffered from musculoskeletal disorders had lower grip and pinch strength than others and this decrease was statistically significant in upper back, wrists/hands, and knees. Moreover, there was a significant difference between grip and three types of pinch strength of carpet weavers and normal values. Furthermore, for both hands, the grip strength in the position recommended by American Society of Hand Therapists was significantly greater than that in the normal position carpet weavers usually adopt.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results, the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has led to a significant decrease in the grip and pinch strength of carpet weavers. Therefore, it is necessary to undertake ergonomic interventions in designing the carpet weaving workstation.
PubMed: 34759600
DOI: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_223_20 -
EClinicalMedicine Feb 2024-related myopathies (-RM) are caused by pathogenic variants in the gene which encodes the type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1). RyR1 is the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)...
BACKGROUND
-related myopathies (-RM) are caused by pathogenic variants in the gene which encodes the type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1). RyR1 is the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channel that mediates excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. RyR1 sub-conductance, SR calcium leak, reduced RyR1 expression, and oxidative stress often contribute to -RM pathogenesis. Loss of RyR1-calstabin1 association, SR calcium leak, and increased RyR1 open probability were observed in 17 -RM patient skeletal muscle biopsies and improved following treatment with Rycal compounds. Thus, we initiated a first-in-patient trial of Rycal S48168 (ARM210) in ambulatory adults with genetically confirmed -RM.
METHODS
Participants received 120 mg (n = 3) or 200 mg (n = 4) S48168 (ARM210) daily for 29 days. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Exploratory endpoints included S48168 (ARM210) pharmacokinetics (PK), target engagement, motor function measure (MFM)-32, hand grip and pinch strength, timed functional tests, PROMIS fatigue scale, semi-quantitative physical exam strength measurements, and oxidative stress biomarkers. The trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04141670) and was conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center between October 28, 2019 and December 12, 2021.
FINDINGS
S48168 (ARM210) was well-tolerated, did not cause any serious adverse events, and exhibited a dose-dependent PK profile. Three of four participants who received the 200 mg/day dose reported improvements in PROMIS-fatigue at 28 days post-dosing, and also demonstrated improved proximal muscle strength on physical examination.
INTERPRETATION
S48168 (ARM210) demonstrated favorable safety, tolerability, and PK, in -RM affected individuals. Most participants who received 200 mg/day S48168 (ARM210) reported decreased fatigue, a key symptom of -RM. These results set the foundation for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof of concept trial to determine efficacy of S48168 (ARM210) in -RM.
FUNDING
NINDS and NINR Intramural Research Programs, NIH Clinical Center Bench to Bedside Award (2017-551673), ARMGO Pharma Inc., and its development partner Les Laboratoires Servier.
PubMed: 38318125
DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102433 -
PloS One 2024The aim of the study was to assess the external and internal compatibility of the Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device in the area of hand grip and pinch... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
The aim of the study was to assess the external and internal compatibility of the Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device in the area of hand grip and pinch strength in the Polish population. The testing of hand grip and pinch strength was carried out among 122 healthy students. Two examiners performed hand grip and pinch strength measurements with a Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device. Measurements were made for the right and left hands. The same people were tested again two weeks later, under the same conditions. The scores of one rater on the first and second tests were compared for reproducibility, and the scores of the two raters were compared to assess the reliability of the instrument. The measurements were found to be highly consistent both between the investigators and between the tests in the hand grip dynamometer test. The findings show high values of the Pearson's correlation coefficient equal or close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) >0.9. Analysis of pinch strength measurements performed using the pinchmeter also found high values of the Pearson's correlation coefficient close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient >0.9; this reflects high agreement between the measurements performed by two investigators as well as assessments performed by one investigator at time intervals. These findings were confirmed by analyses performed using Bland-Altman plots. The measurements made with the Biometrics E-link EP9 evaluation system show high internal and external consistency in hand grip and pinch strength assessment. Biometrics E-link EP9 can be recommended for daily clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Hand Strength; Male; Female; Poland; Prospective Studies; Pinch Strength; Reproducibility of Results; Adult; Young Adult; Biometry; Muscle Strength Dynamometer
PubMed: 38781271
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303648 -
Topics in Spinal Cord Injury... 2021To reach agreement on standardized protocols for assessing upper limb strength and grip and pinch force for upper limb reconstructive surgery for tetraplegia.
OBJECTIVES
To reach agreement on standardized protocols for assessing upper limb strength and grip and pinch force for upper limb reconstructive surgery for tetraplegia.
METHODS
Selected members of an expert panel composed of international therapists formed at the 2018 International Congress for Upper Limb Surgery for Tetraplegia conducted a literature review of current practice that identified gaps and inconsistencies in measurement protocols and presented to workshop attendees. To resolve discrepancies, a set of questions was presented to workshop attendees who voted electronically. Consensus was set at 75% agreement.
RESULTS
For manual muscle testing, consensus was reached for using the Medical Research Council scale, without plus or minus, and the use of resistance through range when testing grade 4 and grade 5 strength. Pectoralis major and serratus anterior should be routinely tested, however there was no consensus on other shoulder muscles. Grip and pinch strength should be tested according to the American Society of Hand Therapists positioning. For grip strength, either the Jamar or Biometrics dynamometer expressed in kilograms should be used. For grip and pinch strength, three measurements should be performed at each testing. No consensus was reached on a device for pinch strength.
CONCLUSION
This work is an important step to enable comparable data in the future. Further consensus methods will work toward developing more comprehensive guidelines in this population. Building international consensus for pre- and postoperative measures of function supports objective evaluation of novel therapies and interpretation of multicenter studies.
Topics: Humans; Muscle Strength; Physical Examination; Quadriplegia; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Spinal Cord Injuries; Upper Extremity
PubMed: 34456548
DOI: 10.46292/sci20-00012 -
Journal of Wrist Surgery Jun 2021Scaphoid excision and partial wrist fusion is used for the treatment of scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist arthritis. The...
Scaphoid excision and partial wrist fusion is used for the treatment of scapholunate advanced collapse/scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist arthritis. The purpose of this study was to report midterm functional and radiographic outcomes in a series of patients who underwent bicolumnar fusion of the lunocapitate and triquetrohamate joints using retrograde headless screws. Twenty-three consecutive patients (25 wrists) underwent surgery with this technique from January 2014 to May 2017 with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Assessment consisted of range of motion, grip, and pinch strength. Patient-reported outcome measures included disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) and patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) scores. Fusion rates and the radiolunate joint were evaluated radiographically. The relationship between wrist range of motion and midcarpal fusion angle (neutral position vs. extended capitolunate fusion angle > 20 degrees) was analyzed. Average follow-up was 18 months. Mean wrist extension was 41 degrees, flexion 36 degrees, and radial-ulnar deviation arc was 43 degrees. Grip strength was 39 kg and pinch 9 kg. Residual pain for activities of daily living was 1.6 (visual analog scale). The mean DASH and PRWE scores were 19 ± 16 and 28 ± 18, respectively. Patients with an extended capitolunate fusion angle trended toward more wrist extension but this did not reach statistical significance ( = 0.17). With retrograde headless compression screws, the proximal articular surface of the lunate is not violated, preserving the residual load-bearing articulation. Patients maintained a functional flexion-extension arc of motion with grip-pinch strength close to normal. Capitolunate fusion angle greater than 20 degrees may provide more wrist extension but further studies are needed to demonstrate this. This is a Level IV study.
PubMed: 34109062
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721853