Hand function in CMT: test retest reliability of some measurements.

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Clin Rehabil. 2006 Oct;20(10):896-908.

Hand function in Charcot Marie Tooth: test retest reliability of some

measurements.

Svensson E, Hager-Ross C.

Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section of

Physiotherapy, Umea University, Umea, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of some measurements of hand

function in people with Charcot Marie Tooth disease.

DESIGN: Test retest study.

SETTING: University, hospitals/clinics in northern Sweden.

SUBJECTS: Twenty people with Charcot Marie Tooth disease.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures of (1) dexterity; Box and Block Test

and Nine-Hole Peg Test, (2) strength; Grippit instrument (grip and

pinch), (3) tactile sensation; Shape Texture Identification Test.

Statistics used: intraclass correlation (ICC 2.1), limits of

agreement, coefficient of repeatability, coefficient of variation,

and linear weighted kappa.

RESULTS: The ICC for the Box and Block Test was very high (0.95). The

limits of agreement, coefficient of repeatability (CR) (11.5

blocks/min) and coefficient of variation (CV) (8.4%) were acceptable.

There was bias towards a better result on the second occasion. For

the Nine-Hole Peg Test, the reliability was good if performance was

within 2 min (ICC =0.99, CR = 4.3 s, CV = 3.9%). Grip strength proved

to be reliable (ICC = 0.99, CR = 26.7 N, CV = 6.6%), while pinch

strength was less reliable. The kappa value of the Shape Texture

Identification Test was 0.87, which was considered very good although

the test has limitations in terms of how well it can describe

patients either performing very well or very poorly.

CONCLUSIONS: The tested instruments can all be used to evaluate hand

function in people with Charcot Marie Tooth. Certain factors,

however, like limited time aspects for the Nine-Hole Peg Test and the

number of trials used, should be taken into consideration. Pinch

strength evaluation should be interpreted with caution.