Do Heberden and Bouchard nodes affect finger dexterity in elderly?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rheumatology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Heberden nodes (HN) and Bouchard nodes (BN) are common degenerative changes in the elderly, potentially impacting hand function.
• Finger dexterity is crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of Heberden nodes (HN) and Bouchard nodes (BN) on finger dexterity in an elderly population.
• To determine if the presence of these nodes necessitates different therapeutic approaches for dexterity training.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 elderly participants (mean age 68.6 years).
• Finger dexterity was assessed using the nine-hole peg test.
• Comparison of dexterity performance between participants with and without HN and BN.

Main Results:

• HN and BN were present in 37.5% of right hands and 36.5% of left hands, more frequently in females.
• No statistically significant difference in average finger dexterity was observed between elderly individuals with and without HN and BN for either hand.
• Right hand dexterity: 21.6 ± 3.16s (with nodes) vs. 21.4 ± 3.16s (without nodes).
• Left hand dexterity: 23.3 ± 3.13s (with nodes) vs. 23.3 ± 3.67s (without nodes).

Conclusions:

• The presence of Heberden nodes and Bouchard nodes does not significantly impair finger dexterity in the elderly.
• Therapists can utilize uniform training programs to enhance or maintain finger dexterity in elderly individuals, irrespective of node presence.