title: Clinical measures of handgrip limitation relate to impaired pinch grip force control after stroke.
abstract: This study examined whether clinical measures of handgrip limitation relate to laboratory measures of grip force impairment during a pinch grip, lift, and hold task post-stroke. Handgrip ability in 45 people with stroke who had residual grip ability was examined relative to 45 age-matched healthy adults. The clinical tests included items from a) the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test; b) the Motor Assessment Scale; c) the Functional Independence Measure (FIM); and d) a custom-designed survey about hand-use in daily life. The laboratory test was summarized by principal components: 1) Pre-Lift Delay and 2) Grip Force Dyscontrol. For the stroke group, a moderate to strong correlation was found between Pre-Lift Delay and each clinical measure of handgrip limitation (rs=0.70-0.85) except the FIM (rs=0.38-0.49). In contrast, Grip Force Dyscontrol was not associated with handgrip limitation on any of the clinical tests (rs=-0.08 to 0.18).
authors.affiliation: Austin Health: Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Center, Kew, Victoria, Australia. jannette.blennerhassett@austin.org.au
authors.forename: Jannette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blennerhassett
authors.forename: Leeanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Matyas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D052581:Pinch Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*