Measurement of maximum voluntary pinch strength: effects of forearm position and outcome score.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of forearm position and outcome score on key, fingertip, and three-jaw chuck pinch strength. Maximum voluntary key, fingertip, and three-jaw chuck pinches were performed by 135 healthy adults (20-88 years old) three times in a pronated, supinated, and neutral forearm position with the right and left hand using a B&L (B&L Engineering, Tustin, CA) pinch gauge. The highest, first, and mean scores of three pinch forces were recorded. Three 3 x 3 factorial repeated-measures analyses tested each type of pinch strength. Forearm position affected key and fingertip pinches (p<0.017; effect sizes <0.14) but not three-jaw chuck pinch. The highest score ranked highest followed by the first and then the mean of the three scores (p<0.017; effect sizes >0.53). Although the effects of type of outcome score were consistent, the statistically significant effects of forearm position and outcome score may be too small (<1 lb) to be clinically relevant. Standardized positioning during pinch strength measurement is still recommended despite these findings.
Stegink Jansen
Caroline W
CW
University of Texas Medical Branch, School of Allied Health Sciences, Galveston, Texas 77555-1144, USA. cjansen@utmb.edu
Simper
Vicki Kocian
VK
Stuart
Harry G
HG
Pinkerton
Heather M
HM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values