An apparatus to assess function of the hand.

An apparatus was developed to study the movement, strength, and manipulative ability of the hand. To obtain normal values, measurements were made on 80 women and 65 men between the ages of 17 and 70 years. As a comparison, 30 female patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis were studied. There was little difference in the motion between men and women and among the different age groups. In pinch strength men were 40 percent stronger than women, but in grip strength men were twice as strong. In manipulative ability, there was a decline with age. The arthritic patients were compromised severly in both active motion and strength. In the latter they were between one third and one tenth of normal. Manipulative ability was one half of normal. A measurement system, such as described, could be used for the evaluation of results of various operative procedures.