The Short-Term Effect of Resisted Grip Activity on Resting Finger Position

Abstract

The study's purposes were to establish reliable measurement of hand resting joint position (RJP) and to determine the effect of repeated resisted grip activity upon that position. Thirty-two volunteer college students meeting health screening criteria were randomly assigned as experimental or control subjects. Procedures included two measurements of the relaxed RJP of the left middle finger prior to 40 repetitions of resisted grip for experimental and no activity for control subjects. The RJP was then measured a third time. Intrarater test-retest reliability of the first two RJP measurements was high (r = .95, p < .0001). The change within the activity group was significant (t = 7.25(15), p < .0001) but not for controls. Subjects receiving resisted grip showed significantly greater change in finger RJP toward flexion after exercise (t (30) = 5.06, p < .0001) than did controls. Results indicate that RJP is relatively stable over short time periods, can be reliably measured, and is influenced by activity. They suggest that occupational therapists might find RJP a useful measure of the instantaneous state of joint function, of muscle tone and of the effects of treatment.