Age and Gender Stratified Adult Myometric Reference Values of Isometric Intrinsic Hand Strength

J Hand Ther, 2020 · DOI: 10.1016/j.jht.2019.03.005 · Published: July 1, 2020

Rehabilitation Research Methodology & Design Biomechanics

Simple Explanation

The study establishes reference values for intrinsic hand strength, which is important for hand function. These values are stratified by age and gender for adults aged 21 and over. The Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer (RIHM) was used to measure the strength of five isolated intrinsic hand muscles. This tool is known for its accuracy and reliability. Factors such as age, gender, and BMI were found to be predictors of intrinsic hand strength, similar to what is seen with grip strength. However, the effect of BMI varied between men and women.

Study Duration

2014-2017

Participants

607 healthy-handed adult males and females

Evidence Level

4; Observational Design

Key Findings

1
Intrinsic hand strength generally declines with age, similar to grip dynamometry trends.
2
Age, gender, BMI, and the interaction between gender and BMI were significant predictors of all measures of intrinsic strength.
3
Hand dominance was not a predictor of intrinsic strength, suggesting that strength decreases at a similar rate regardless of which hand is dominant.

Research Summary

This study established normative values for intrinsic hand strength in adults aged 21+, stratified by age and gender. These values were obtained using the Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer (RIHM). The study found that intrinsic hand strength declines with age, and that age, gender, BMI, and the interaction between gender and BMI are significant predictors of intrinsic strength. Hand dominance, however, was not a predictor. The established reference values can be used to inform evaluation findings, goal setting, treatment planning, and to assess the success of interventions for intrinsic weakness in hand therapy and surgical interventions.

Practical Implications

Clinical Evaluation

The normative data can be used to compare a patient's intrinsic hand strength to that of healthy individuals of the same age and gender, aiding in the identification of weakness.

Treatment Planning

The reference values can help in setting realistic goals and planning appropriate interventions for patients with intrinsic hand muscle weakness.

Intervention Assessment

The data can be used to measure the effectiveness of hand therapy or surgical interventions aimed at improving intrinsic hand strength.

Study Limitations

1
The convenience sampling strategy may introduce sampling biases and limit generalizability.
2
The use of self-reported height, weight, and medical history could lead to inaccuracies.
3
The study did not gather vocational data, which could have explained some of the unaccounted variance in the regression models.

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