Article

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate manual activity capacity (i.e. activity capacity to
perform hand activities) and its relation with body functions of the hand and
forearm in children with congenital hand differences (CHD) METHODS: We assessed
10-14 year-old children with CHD (N = 106) using a functional handgrips test.
Measurements of body functions included joint mobility and muscle strength.
Patient characteristics were hand dominance and severity. RESULTS: We found a
stronger relation between body functions and manual activity capacity in
non-dominant hands than dominant hands. Dominant hands scored significantly
higher on manual activity capacity than nondominant hands that were similarly
impaired at body functions level. Severity of the CHD and body functions had only
small effects on manual activity capacity. CONCLUSION:
The relation between body
functions and manual activity capacity is stronger in non-dominant hands than
dominant hands, indicating that improvement in body functions lead to larger
changes in manual activity capacity in the non-dominant hand. This may suggest
that in bilaterally-affected children surgery should be done at the non-dominant
hand first since this hand would benefit most from surgery-induced body functions
improvement.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS