Normative data for the Baseline® 5 position hydraulic pinch meter and the relationship between lateral pinch strength and pinch span

INTRODUCTION

The Baseline® 5 position hydraulic pinch meter allows pinch strength assessment at five different pinch spans. The present study used this newly developed meter to assess where pinch span force is the greatest as previous literature is conflicting.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The primary aim of the study was development of normative data using health subjects, whereas the secondary aims were to evaluate meter inter-rater reliability and to identify in which pinch span the greatest force was produced.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a clinical measurement, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Ten occupational therapy student raters examined inter-rater reliability by calculating an average intraclass correlation. Recruitment of normative data subjects occurred across various locations in West Michigan to include a diverse population and followed testing procedures recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists. Data were stratified by age categories and sex to develop normative standards. Data were analyzed using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA and a three-way mixed ANOVA.

RESULTS

Normative data were calculated from a sample of 605 subjects (292 males and 313 females). One-way ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference at the five different spans, noting a small effect size. Also noted were a nonsignificant three-way interaction between age category, pinch spans, and sex using both the right and left hands, along with a significant two-way interaction between spans and sex bilaterally.

DISCUSSION

The meter showed an excellent inter-rater reliability with an intraclass correlation = .98 and indicated the pinch span that produced the greatest amount of force was not consistent with previous literature.

Clinical evaluation of thumb base osteoarthritis: A scoping review

Introduction

Thumb base osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent hand OA phenotype, associated with specific risk factors, treatment strategies, and requiring a distinct subset of evaluative approaches. This paper aimed at surveying our clinical evaluative methods and identifying gaps in our ability to capture the thumb's unique attributes and how they could impact our treatment recommendations.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology to gather relevant published and non-published articles regarding clinical tests currently available to assess the physical presentation of thumb base OA with special consideration of its specific multifactorial parameters namely architecture, ligaments, biomechanics, neuromuscular control, and proprioception. A full search strategy of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Clinical Trials.gov from their inception through May 2020 was performed.

Results

Of 1936 citation identified, 54 met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-two clinical physical tests for the evaluation of thumb base OA were extracted, most of which well suited to address research questions regarding efficacy of clinical intervention, however providing limited information regarding the underlying impairments of ligaments, biomechanics, neuromuscular or proprioceptive components.

Conclusions

The tests and measures specific to the basal thumb OA phenotype, and capable of isolating its multifactorial contributors are scarce. Our limited physical assessment repertoire impedes our ability to describe and answer explicative research questions. Without these we cannot evaluate the effect of conservative management and provide specific treatment recommendations. Further research is needed to develop and validate distinct clinical tools for this debilitating pathology.

Decrease of DHEA-S concentration succeeding a micro-dose thumb exertion: mood-state determinants reflect stress-biomarker responses

Background

The present study examined the effect of a micro-dose of resistance-exercise on serum DHEA-S, IL-6 and mood-state determinants. Potential relationships between mood and the biomarkers were also studied with the aim of directing research on non-invasive exercise-monitoring methods.

Methods

30 male participants (20 weightlifting-trained; 10 untrained) were separated into 3 groups of 10: weightlifting experimental (WL_EXP); untrained experimental (UT_EXP); weightlifting placebo (WL_PLA). WL_EXP and UT_EXP performed four 60-s isometric thumb exertions separated by 60-s rest intervals in a single-blinded placebo-controlled study. Participants were assessed over a 60-min post-intervention recovery period for changes in serum DHEA-S and IL-6, and mood-state determinants (vigour, tension, fatigue).

Results

DHEA-S changed in UT_EXP only; a decrease from 20- to 60-min post-exercise (Δ36.9 %, p < 0.01). DHEA-S remained below baseline at the final time-point (Δ35.3 %, p = 0.012). Tension decreased immediately post-exercise in WL_EXP (Δ86.7 %, p = 0.022), whereas UT_EXP showed a delayed decrease which continued up to 60-min post-intervention (Δ100 %, p < 0.01). Relative to fatigue scores recorded immediately post-exercise, WL_EXP decreased within the first 10-min post-intervention (Δ22.2 %, p < 0.01) whereas UT_EXP showed a delayed decrease evident at 20-min post-intervention (Δ25 %, p < 0.01). Serum IL-6 and vigour scores remained unchanged across groups (p > 0.05) and WL_PLA did not change for any measured variable (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The authors conclude that a micro-dose of resistance-exercise can reduce serological DHEA-S concentration within 60-min of exercise cessation. Additionally, mood-state assessment in untrained individuals can be considered for non-invasively indicating exercise-induced concentration changes in the stress biomarker, DHEA-S, providing prospects for the development of safer, more sophisticated exercise-monitoring practice.