Assessment of hand strength is used in a wide range of clinical settings especially during treatment of diseases affecting the function of the hand. This investigation aimed to determine age-and gender-specific reference values for grip and pinch strength in a normal Swiss population with special regard to old and very old subjects as well as to different levels of occupational demand. Hand strength data were collected using a Jamar dynamometer and a pinch gauge with standard testing position, protocol and instructions. Analysis of the data from 1023 tested subjects between 18 and 96 years revealed a curvilinear relationship of grip and pinch strength to age, a correlation to height, weight and significant differences between occupational groups. Hand strength values differed significantly from those of other populations, confirming the thesis that applying normative data internationally is questionable. Age-and gender-specific reference values for grip and pinch strength are presented. Hand strength data were collected using a Jamar dynamometer and a pinch gauge with standard testing position, protocol and instructions.Analysis of the data from 1023 tested subjects between 18 and 96 years revealed a curvilinear relationship of grip and pinch strength to age, a correlation to height, weight and significant differences between occupational groups. Hand strength values differed significantly from those of other populations, confirming the thesis that applying normative data internationally is questionable.

Objective. To explore the physiometric and psychometric properties of clinical, generic, and condition-specific assessment instruments. To describe patients' outcome after total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods. Forty-three patients were assessed in a 5-6-year cross-sectional catamnesis. Results. With regard to shoulder joint stability, pain, general physical health, and mental health, the patients showed scores comparative to normative scores. Significant functional limitation was evidenced by low mean scores on the specific function scales (e.g., Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score ‫؍‬ 64.0, normative score ‫؍‬ 86.6). There were high correlations among the joint-specific scales (up to 0.93) and moderate correlations between these and the generic and clinical scales. Factor analysis identified 3 different assessment domains. Conclusion. The patients' quality of life (QOL) was high and not affected by impairment in some specific functional abilities. Physical QOL, mental QOL, clinical assessment, condition-specific measures, and generic measures were identified as separate domains, all of which are required for a comprehensive and sophisticated assessment in practical clinical routine.

BackgroundHand strength is an important independent surrogate parameter to assess outcome and risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the predictive power of cofactors and to predict population-based normative grip and pinch strength.MethodsA representative population survey was used as the basis for prediction analyses (n = 978). Bivariate relationships between grip/pinch strengths of the dominate hand were explored by means of all relevant mathematical functions to maximize prediction. The resulting best functions were combined into a multivariate regression.ResultsPolynoms (up to the third degree) were the best predictive functions. On the bivariate level, height was best correlated to grip (46.2% explained variance) and pinch strength (37.7% explained variance) in a linear relationship, followed by sex, age, weight, and occupational demand on the hand. Multivariate regression provided predicted values close to the empirical ones explaining 76.6% of the variance for grip strength and 67.7% for pinch strength.ConclusionThe five easy-to-measure cofactors sex, age, body height, categorized occupational demand on the hand, and body weight provide a highly accurate prediction of normative grip and pinch strength.

Seventeen pyrocarbon PIP prostheses were implanted into 14 patients, followed prospectively and reviewed clinically. The patients were assessed after a mean follow-up of 20.5 months subjectively by a VAS pain scale and radiographically. Significant pain relief was noted in all patients from a mean of 7.6 pre-operatively to 1.3 at final follow-up. Migration of one, or both, components was observed radiographically in eight joints and radiolucent lines were evident in three more cases. The clinical results of the implants which had migrated were less favourable for range of motion and grip strength than the stable joints of this series, although, statistically, the results were not significant. The number of possibly unstable prostheses in this series raises the question as to whether pyrocarbon is suitable for uncemented pressfit fixation in combination with early functional rehabilitation.

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