The grip strength test is widely used; however, little has been investigated about its reliability when used in elderly with subjects thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to examine the test–retest reliability of the grip strength test in elderly subjects with thumb CMC OA.
Methods
A total of 78 patients with unilateral thumb CMC OA, 84.6 % female (mean±SD age 83±5 years), were recruited. Each patient performed three pain free maximal isometric contractions on each hand in two occasions, 1 week apart. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and 95 % limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated.
Results
Test–retest reliability was excellent for side affected (ICC=0.947; p=0.001) and contralateral (ICC=0.96; p=0.001) thumb CMC OA.
Conclusions
The present results indicate that maximum handgrip strength can be measured reliably, using the Jamar hand dynamometer, in patients with thumb CMC OA, which enables its use in research and in the clinic to determine the effect of interventions on improving grip.
BlandJMAltmanDG. Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet.1986;1(8476):307–10.
2.
BohannonRW. Test–retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry during a single session of strength assessment. Phys Ther.1986;66(2):206–9.
3.
BrownACramerLDEckhausDSchmidtJWareLMacKenzieE. Validity and reliability of the dexter hand evaluation and therapy system in hand-injured patients. J Hand Ther.2000;13(1):37–45.
4.
ChiarottoAFernandez-De-Las-PenasCCastaldoCNegriniSVillafañeJH. Widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity in elderly subjects with unilateral thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. Hand (NY). 2013;8(4):422–9.
5.
ChiarottoAFernandez-De-Las-PenasCCastaldoMVillafañeJH. Bilateral pressure pain hypersensitivity over the hand as potential sign of sensitization mechanisms in individuals with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. Pain Med.2013;14(10):1585–92.
6.
ColdhamFLewisJLeeH. The reliability of one vs. three grip trials in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. J Hand Ther.2006;19(3):318–26. quiz 327.
7.
CopayAGSubachBRGlassmanSDPollyDWSchulerTC. Understanding the minimum clinically important difference: a review of concepts and methods. Spine J.2007;7:541–6.
8.
DominickKLJordanJMRennerJBKrausVB. Relationship of radiographic and clinical variables to pinch and grip strength among individuals with osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum.2005;52(5):1424–30.
9.
FessEMoranC. Clinical assessment recommendations. Garner: American Society of Hand Therapists; 1981.
10.
HamiltonABalnaveRAdamsR. Grip strength testing reliability. J Hand Ther.1994;7(3):163–70.
11.
HopkinsWGSchabortEJHawleyJS. Reliability of power in physical performance tests. Sports Med.2001;31(3):211–34.
12.
JaggiRMorrisS. Practice tips. Rule of thumb: update on first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Can Fam Physician. 2007;53(8):1309–10.
13.
JohnsonCGreenB. Submitting manuscripts to biomedical journals: common errors and helpful solutions. J Manip Physiol Ther.2009;32(1):1–12.
14.
LeeHJPaikNJLimJYKimKWGongHS. The impact of digit-related radiographic osteoarthritis of the hand on grip-strength and upper extremity disability. Clin Orthop Relat Res.2012;470(8):2202–8.
15.
MathiowetzVWeberKVollandGKashmanM. Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations. J Hand Surg [Am].1984;9(2):222–6.
16.
NitschkeJEMcMeekenJMBurryHCMatyasTA. When is a change a genuine change? A clinically meaningful interpretation of grip strength measurements in healthy and disabled women. J Hand Ther.1999;12(1):25–30.
17.
NunesPMDe OliveiraDGAruinASDos SantosMJ. Relationship between hand function and grip force control in women with hand osteoarthritis. J Rehabil Res Dev.2012;49(6):855–65.
18.
PortneyLWatkinsM. Foundations of clinical research. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Health; 2000.
19.
SchreudersTARoebroeckMEGoumansJVan NieuwenhuijzenJFStijnenTHStamHJ. Measurement error in grip and pinch force measurements in patients with hand injuries. Phys Ther.2003;83(9):806–15.
20.
SpijkermaNDCSnijdersCJStijnenTLankhorstGJ. Standardization of grip strength measurements. Effects on repeatability and peak force. Scand J Rehabil Med.1991;23(4):203–6.
21.
StoneCANolanBLawlorPGKennyRA. Hand-held dynamometry: tester strength is paramount, even in frail populations. J Rehabil Med.2011;43(9):808–11.
22.
StratfordPLevyDGauldieSLevyKMiseferiD. Extensor carpi radialis tendonitis: a validation of selected outcome measures. Physiother Can.1987;39:250–5.
23.
VillafañeJHValdesK. Reliability of pinch grip strength test in elderly subjects with unilateral thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. J Phys Ther Sci.2014;26(7):993–5.
24.
VillafañeJHSilvaGBDiaz-ParrenoSAFernandez-CarneroJ. Hypoalgesic and motor effects of kaltenborn mobilization on elderly patients with secondary thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. J Manipu Physiol Ther.2011;34(8):547–56.
25.
VillafañeJHSilvaGBBishopMDFernandez-CarneroJ. Radial nerve mobilization decreases pain sensitivity and improves motor performance in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.2012;93(3):396–403.
26.
VillafañeJHSilvaGBFernandez-CarneroJ. Effect of thumb joint mobilization on pressure pain threshold in elderly patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. J Manip Physiol Ther.2012;35(2):110–20.
27.
VillafañeJHBishopMDFernandez-De-Las-PenasCLangfordD. Radial nerve mobilisation had bilateral sensory effects in people with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomised trial. J Physiother.2013;59(1):25–30.
28.
VillafañeJHClelandJAFernandez-De-Las-PenasC. Bilateral sensory effects of unilateral passive accessory mobilization in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. J Manip Physiol Ther.2013;36(4):232–7.
29.
VillafañeJHClelandJAFernandez-De-Las-PenasC. The effectiveness of a manual therapy and exercise protocol in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther.2013;43(4):204–13.
30.
ZhangWDohertyBFLeebLAlekseevaNKArdenJWBijlsmaF. EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis: report of a task force of ESCISIT. Ann Rheum Dis.2009;68(1):8–17.
