Are deficiencies in manual tracking associated with upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the reliability of manual tracking performance and its association with impairment and disability in individuals symptomatic of an upper extremity cumulative trauma disorder (CTD).


METHODS
Volunteer and physician referred subjects (100 control, 140 CTD) tracked a target cursor moving quasi-randomly using a hand-held stylus interfaced with a digitizing tablet. Impairment was physician-rated and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire measured disability. Subsamples of 25 subjects per group were tested on three occasions.


RESULTS
Reliability of tracking performance was excellent (ICC > or = 0.88) and sensitivity was 81%. Performance was superior in controls (p < 0.001) and deteriorated as a function of impairment level (p < 0.001). Tracking and impairment rating explained 65% of the disability score.


CONCLUSIONS
Tracking performance may be an important outcome for monitoring change over time and the impact of a CTD on function in everyday activities.
Brouwer
Brenda
B
Motor Performance Laboratory, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, 31 George Street Queen)s University, Kingston, K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada. brouwerb@post.queensu.ca
Faris
Matthew
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*