Developing an instrument for the measurement of grip ability after distal radius fracture

Abstract

Background: Distal radius fracture (DRF) often causes reduced ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). There is a need for recurrent evaluation of the ability to perform ADL in the early stage of rehabilitation as a complement to traditional functional measures.

Aim: Develop a short and simple performance test for use in clinical practice through modification of the Sollerman Grip Function Test (GFT).

Method: DRF patients and controls performed the GFT. The tasks that discriminated patients from controls were calculated for sensitivity to change and correlated to the QuickDASH questionnaire at three subsequent occasions. Interrater reliability was tested.

Results: Twelve GFT tasks discriminated DRF patients from healthy controls. One task was excluded due to heavy load. Remaining 11 tasks were all sensitive to change. Four tasks with correlation to the QuickDASH and representing the grip types most frequently used in ADL came to constitute the Wrist Performance Test (WPT). A test-retest showed satisfactory interrater reliability (rs = 0.87).

Conclusion: A short performance test was developed through modification of the GFT. It is easy to use in clinical practice to evaluate the rehabilitation process after DRF.

Keywords:

• ADL
• clinical measure
• disability evaluation
• grip assessment
• performance test
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank occupational therapists Elisabeth Nordqvist and Ingrid Andreasson at the outpatient clinic for orthopedic hand therapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Mölndal, for their help with the data collection. Statistical advisers were Nils-Gunnar Pehrsson, Johan Stockenberg and Mattias Molin at Statistiska Konsultgruppen and Magnus Pettersson at Statistikkonsulterna AB. Thanks to Janet Vesterlund for language revision. Funding by grants from the Health & Medical Care Committee of the Regional Executive Board, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, and the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest concerning this article.

Additional information

Funding

Funding by grants from the Health & Medical Care Committee of the Regional Executive Board, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, and the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists is gratefully acknowledged.