title: Relationship between self-reported upper limb disability and quantitative tests in hand-arm vibration syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the relationship between quantitative tests of hand function and upper limb disability, as measured by the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, in hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 228 individuals with HAVS were included in this study. Each had undergone a full HAVS assessment by an experienced physician, including quantitative tests of vibrotactile and thermal perception thresholds, maximal hand-grip strength (HG) and the Purdue pegboard (PP) test. Individuals were also asked to complete a DASH questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PP and HG of the quantitative tests gave the best and statistically significant individual correlations with the DASH disability score (r2 = 0.168 and 0.096). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that only PP and HG measurements were statistically significant predictors of upper limb disability (r2 = 0.178). Overall a combination of the PP and HG measurements, rather than each alone, gave slightly better discrimination, although not statistically significant, between normal and abnormal DASH scores with a sensitivity of 73.1% and specificity of 64.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurements of manual dexterity and hand-grip strength using PP and HG may be useful in helping to confirm lack of upper limb function and 'perceived' disability in HAVS.
authors: Health and Safety Laboratory, Harpur Hill, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK. kerry.poole@hsl.gov.uk
authors: Kerry
authors: K
authors: Poole
authors: Howard
authors: H
authors: Mason
mesh_terms: D018737:Hand Strength; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis