Relationship between self-reported upper limb disability and quantitative tests in hand-arm vibration syndrome

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a common occupational disorder.
• Assessing upper limb disability in HAVS is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Quantitative functional tests can objectively measure hand function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the relationship between quantitative hand function tests and upper limb disability.
• To evaluate the predictive value of these tests for disability as measured by the DASH questionnaire in HAVS patients.

Main Methods:

• 228 individuals with HAVS underwent assessment.
• Quantitative tests included vibrotactile/thermal thresholds, maximal hand-grip strength (HG), and Purdue Pegboard (PP) test.
• Disability was measured using the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Purdue Pegboard (PP) and hand-grip strength (HG) showed significant individual correlations with DASH scores.
• PP and HG were significant predictors of upper limb disability in regression analysis (r2 = 0.178).
• Combined PP and HG offered slightly better discrimination between normal and abnormal DASH scores (sensitivity 73.1%, specificity 64.3%).

Conclusions:

• Purdue Pegboard (PP) and hand-grip strength (HG) measurements are useful for assessing upper limb function.
• These quantitative tests can help confirm perceived disability in individuals with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).