Article

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional and clinical measurement. INTRODUCTION: Assessment
of hand function considers an essential part in clinical practice. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:
To develop normative values of hand grip strength and dexterity function
for 6-12-year-old children in Saudi Arabia. METHODS:
Grip strength and dexterity
function was measured in 525 children using Grip Track hand dynamometer (JTECH
Medical, Midvale, UT, USA) and 9-hole pegboard test respectively. RESULTS: The
grip strength and dexterity function was improved as age progressed regardless of
gender. Across all age groups, the hand grip strength of boys was significantly
higher than girls for dominant hand (31.75 +/- 10.33 vs 28.24 +/- 9.35; P < .001)
and nondominant hand (31.01 +/- 10.27 vs 27.27 +/- 9.30; P < .001). The girls
performed slightly faster than boys for dominant hand (19.70 vs 20.68; P < .05)
and nondominant hand (21.79 vs 23.46; P < .05). In general, girls completed a
9-HPT faster than boys in the 2 of 7 age groups: 11 years (9-HPT scores = 2.10
seconds; P < .01) and 12 years (9-HPT scores = 1.93 seconds; P < .01).
DISCUSSION: The overall patterns of hand grip strength and dexterity function
observed in the present study are similar to the previous studies that
established acceleration of grip strength with advanced age, and faster
performance scores in older children than younger children in both genders.
CONCLUSIONS: Norms of hand grip strength and dexterity enable therapists to
identify some developmental characteristics of hand function among Saudi
children, determine the presence of impairment, and compare scores from children
in different clinical settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS