title: Ulnar digits contribution to grip strength in patients with thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis is less than in normal controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Grip testing is commonly used as an objective measure of strength in the hand and upper extremity and is frequently used clinically as a proxy measure of function. Increasing knowledge of hand biomechanics, muscle strength, and prehension patterns can provide us with a better understanding of the functional capabilities of the hand. The objectives of this study were to determine the contribution of ulnar digits to overall grip strength in individuals with thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven subjects participated in the study. This group consisted of 19 patients with CMC OA (aged 60-88 years) and 18 healthy subjects (60-88 years). Three hand configurations were used by the subjects during grip testing: use of the entire hand (index, middle, ring, and little fingers) (IMRL); use of the index, middle, and ring fingers (IMR); and use of only the index and middle fingers (IM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grip strength findings for the two groups found that compared to their healthy counterparts, CMC OA patients had, on average, a strength deficiency of 45.6, 35.5, and 28.8 % in IMRL, IMR, and IM, respectively. The small finger contribution to grip is 14.3 % and the ring and small finger contribute 34 % in subjects with CMC OA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Grip strength decreases as the number of digits contributing decreased in both groups. The ulnar digits contribution to grip strength is greater than one third of total grip strength in subjects with CMC OA. Individuals with CMC OA demonstrate significantly decreased grip strength when compared to their healthy counterparts.
authors.affiliation: Regione Generala 11/16, Piossasco, 10045 Italy ; IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA USA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantitative Methods. Faculty of Pharmacology, San Pablo CEU University, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angulo-Diaz-Parreño
authors.affiliation: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Nephrology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pillastrini
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy ; Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
keywords: Carpometacarpal osteoarthritis; Grip strength; Hand therapy; Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Thumb