title: Reliability of the box and block test of manual dexterity for use with patients with fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the Box and Block (B&B) Test of Manual Dexterity for upper-extremity function in patients with fibromyalgia and to compare their results with those of healthy control participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed reliability of the B&B Test within and between testers using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We compared fibromyalgia patient (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) scores using analysis of variance and population-based normative data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The B&B Test was reliable with ICCs of .90 to .85. Fibromyalgia patients' B&B Test scores were significantly lower (more impaired) than those of the control group and standardized norms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The B&B Test is a reliable measure of upper-extremity function in fibromyalgia patients and is able to reveal a reduction in upper-extremity function in these patients compared with both healthy control participants and normative scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Canny
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Mikel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis