Evaluation protocols of hand grip strength in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review

Hand grip strength is a useful measurement for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, since this disease is often associated with functional anomalies of the hands and a consequent reduction in muscular strength. Thus, the standardization of the test protocol is important in relation to make reproducible and reliable studies. The aim of this systematic review was to verify the parameters associated with the measurement of the hand grip strength in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. The review was carried out according to the recommendations of PRISMA, based on the databases of the Web of Science and the Journals Website of the Brazilian governmental agency CAPES. The following inclusion criteria were established: articles whose themes involved dynamometry to measure the hand grip in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, published in English between 1990 and 2012. The articles were selected by two independent reviewers. Initially, 628 articles were identified, and in the final review only 40 were included in the qualitative synthesis, that is, those in which the main tool used to evaluate the hand grip strength was the Jamar®. In relation to the hand grip strength parameters feedback type, hand dominance, repetitions, contraction intensity, acquisition time and rest period many data are imprecise and were not detailed in the method description. It is clear that there is a need for the standardization of a protocol which establishes the type of dynamometer and the parameters to be evaluated and also takes into consideration the clinical conditions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.