Strength of the Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand Measured with a Hand-Held Dynamometer: Reliability in Patients with Ulnar and Median Nerve Paralysis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of a technique to measure the strength of the intrinsic hand muscles. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients showed an excellent level of reliability for the comparison of muscle strength between groups of patients. However, for the results of individual patients, the calculated Standard Error of Measurements (10-16%) and the Smallest Detectable Differences for intraobserver (31-36%) and interobserver (37-52%) values indicate that only relatively large changes in strength can be confidently detected with this technique. The results of the present study were compared with those of four previous grip strength studies.

Measuring the strength of the intrinsic muscles of the hand in patients with ulnar and median nerve injuries: reliability of the rotterdam intrinsic hand myometer (RIHM)

“…Consequently an instrument that is capable of measuring the intrinsic muscle strength in isolation is preferable in evaluating the recovery of muscle strength in the ulnar and median nerve injuries. 16 In this study we tested the reliability of measurements with the RIHM for the intrinsic muscle strength measurements in 27 patients with ulnar and/or median nerve injury. The results show that the reliability of the RIHM, as determined by the ICC, was excellent.…”

Optimal Handle Grip Span for Maximum Hand Grip Strength and Accurate Grip Control Strength Exertion According to Individual Hand Size

“…Hand grip strength is as an indicator of the total body strength, an objective test for physical capability, and a valid predictor of work capacity, degree of disease/injury, and rehabilitation outcomes [1]. Hand grip strength is a simple and economic evaluation that gives practical information about muscle, nerve, bone, or joint disorders [2,3]. The daily tool operation by hand is not only related to HGS, but is also relevant to GCS, a control ability of force exert accurately by hand palm [4,5].…”

Multifinger Ab- and Adduction Strength and Coordination

“…Buschbacher 1997), measure individual finger strength separately (e.g. Matheson et al 1970;Schreuders et al 2000;Li et al 2003), or examine only kinematic quality (e.g. Sandqvist and Eklund 2000).…”