Validation of the Nine Hole Peg Test as a measure of dexterity in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Reliability of functional outcome measures in adults with neurofibromatosis 2

Objective:

To determine inter- and intra-rater reliability of functional performance outcome measures in people with neurofibromatosis 2. To ascertain how closely objective and subjective measures align.

Methods:

Twenty-nine people with neurofibromatosis 2 were recorded performing the modified clinical test of sensory integration and balance, four square step test and modified nine-hole peg tests. Three raters scored each measure to determine inter-rater reliability. One rater scored the measures a second time to determine intra-rater reliability. Participants also completed a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire and dynamic visual acuity testing.

Results:

Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability scores (intra-class correlation coefficient) were excellent for all tests (intra-class correlation coefficient r ⩾ 0.9). The four square step test correlated with perceived walking challenges and modified clinical test of sensory integration and balance correlated with perceived balance challenges in a neurofibromatosis 2 quality of life patient report outcome measure.

Conclusion:

The modified clinical test of sensory integration and balance, four square step test and modified nine-hole peg tests are potentially useful measures for monitoring neurofibromatosis 2.

Bibliometric Analysis of Research on the Use of the Nine Hole Peg Test

Manual dexterity is essential for performing daily life tasks, becoming a primary means of interaction with the physical, social, and cultural environment. In this respect, the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) is considered a gold standard for assessing manual dexterity. Bibliometrics is a discipline that focuses on analyzing publications to describe, evaluate, and predict the status and development trends in certain fields of scientific research. We performed a bibliometric analysis to track research results and identify global trends regarding the use of the NHPT. The bibliographic data were retrieved from the Web of Science database and then analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package, resulting in the retrieval of a total of 615 publications from 1988 to 2021. Among the 263 journals investigated, the most prolific were the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Clinical Rehabilitation, and Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. North America and Europe were the areas with the highest production of publications, with the United States (n = 104) ranking first in terms of the number of publications, followed by the United Kingdom (n = 62) and Italy (n = 62). The analysis of keywords revealed that there were two main lines of research, with one related to the study of recovery and disability of the upper limbs caused by certain diseases and another related to the study of reliability and validity. Structured information can be useful to understand the research trajectory and the uses of this tool.

Outcome measures frequently used to assess muscle strength in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1: a systematic review

Measurement of muscle strength is fundamental for the management of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Nevertheless, guidance on this topic is somewhat limited due to heterogeneous outcome measures used. This systematic literature review aimed to summarize the most frequent outcome measures to assess muscle strength in patients with DM1. We searched on Pubmed, Web of Science and Embase databases. Observational studies using measures of muscle strength assessment in adult patients with DM1 were included. From a total of 80 included studies, 24 measured cardiac, 45 skeletal and 23 respiratory muscle strength. The most common method and outcome measures used to assess cardiac muscle strength were echocardiography and ejection fraction, for skeletal muscle strength were quantitative muscle test, manual muscle test and maximum isometric torque and medical research council and for respiratory muscle strength were manometry and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure. We successfully gathered the more consensual methods and measures to evaluate muscle strength in future clinical studies, particularly to test muscle strength response to treatments in patients with DM1. Future consensus on a set of measures to evaluate muscle strength (core outcome set), is important for these patients.