The Comparison of Hand Grip and Pinch Strength between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Control Groups.

, Lee, Seung Jo; , Park, Jong Woo; , Park, Beom Joon; , Han, Seung Hoon; , Yoo, Dae Hyun; , Kim, Mi Jung

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2008;32(2):200-205.

Lee, Seung Jo , Park, Jong Woo , Park, Beom Joon , Han, Seung Hoon , Yoo, Dae Hyun , Kim, Mi Jung

¹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kimmjreh@hanyang.ac.kr
²Department of Internal Medicine, The Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

류마티스 관절염 환자의 손의 악력에 대한 정상인과의 비교 분석

이승조, 박종우, 박범준, 한승훈, 유대현¹, 김미정

한양대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실, ¹류마티스내과학교실

Abstract

Objective
To determine the usefulness of hand grip and pinch strength in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Method
The experimental subjects were divided into 3 groups (Group 1: 100 persons; control, Group 2: 100 persons; RA without hand deformity, Group 3: 100 persons; RA with hand deformity). They were assessed with using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), evaluating the activity of daily living (ADL). A JAMAR Hand Dynamometer^Ⱂ, JAMAR Hydraulic Pinch Gauge^Ⱂ (Sammons Preston Rolyan, Ilinois, USA) were used to measure grip and pinch strength. Further assessments included joint deformity counts, and visual analogue scales.

Results
The grip and pinch strength significantly decreased in all groups. The total MBI with other groups significantly decreased in RA patients with hand deformity (group 3). The MBI correlated well with visual analogue scales in group 2 and with joint deformity counts in group 3.

Conclusion
Hand grip and pinch strength tests would be a useful tool for the evaluation of hand function in rheumatoid arthritis patients. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 200-205)

Key Words: Rheumatoid arthritis, Pinch strength, Grip strength, Modified Barthel Index