Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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Correlation of Thumb Length with Hand Grip Strength, Pinch Grip Strength and Hand Dexterity in Physiotherapists: An Observational Study

Saurabhi Purandare

Work-related thumb problems in physiotherapy had a prevalence of 44%, which is very high. This underestimated impairment should not be ignored and good treatment is necessary to help these physiotherapists. Thumb joints are more vulnerable to biomechanical and work-related injuries in Physiotherapists because of manual therapy techniques like mobilization; manipulation and massage require greater hand forces which stress the upper limb and compress the thumb joint. The present study to determine a correlation between thumb length, hand grip strength, pinch strength and hand dexterity in Physiotherapist.

To evaluate thumb length in terms of thumb length template. To evaluate hand grip strength in terms of Jammer dynamometer, pinch grip strength in terms of Jammer pinch meter and hand dexterity using Nine-hole peg test. To find correlation of thumb length with hand grip strength, pinch strength and hand dexterity. Permission was taken from concerned ethical committee and consent was taken from the subjects. An observational study was conducted on 30 individuals, selected on the basis of inclusion criteria & exclusion criteria. Thumb length was assessed using thumb length template, hand grip strength was assessed using jammer dynamometer, pinch grip strength was assessed using pinch grip strength, and hand dexterity was assessed using peg board. There was significant correlation of thumb length (5.911 ± 1.0607) with hand grip strength (57.9429 ± 26.18031) (p value-0.054), inch grip strength but we did not find any correlations of thumb length with hand dexterity (16.9286 ± 1.45088) (p value-0.10). There is significant correlation in thumb length and hand grip strength, small and medium thumb length shows significant grip strength as compared to large and extra-large. There was no significant correlation found of thumb length in hand dexterity as compared to hand grip strength and pinch grip strength respectively.