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Joint Impairment and Hand Function in the Elderly
Author(s) -
Hughes Susan L.,
Gibbs James,
Edelman Perry,
Singer Ruth,
Chang Rowland W.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1992.tb01982.x
Subject(s) - medicine , grip strength , physical therapy , test (biology) , depression (economics) , hand strength , observational study , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gerontology , paleontology , biology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective To test the contribution of joint impairment to observed hand function (grip strength and Williams Test) in the elderly, using a multivariate model. Design Cross‐sectional observational data (baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal study). Subjects Five hundred forty‐one persons over age 60, including continuing care retirement community ( n = 222), homebound ( n = 72), and ambulatory ( n = 247) respondents. Mean age at assessment 76.7, (SD = 9.0). Measurement Independent variables included sociodemographics, physician measures of upper joint impairment, an index of comorbidities derived from physical examination or chart abstract, self‐assessed arthritis pain, depression, and anxiety. The dependent variables included grip strength and a modified Williams Test [Williams Test (M)]. Main Results The multiple regression explained 59% (Adjusted R 2 = .59) of the variance in grip strength, with joint impairment accounting for a change in R 2 of .07. Upper joint impairment and grip strength accounted for 3% and 5%, respectively, of the variance in the Williams Test (M) (total amount of explained variance = 45%). Conclusions Demographics explain most of the variance in grip strength and performance on the Williams Test (M). Controlling for demographics, musculoskeletal disease represented by joint impairment is associated with diminished grip strength. Reduced grip strength is associated with poorer performance on the Williams Test (M).