THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GRIP STRENGTH AND SELF REPORTED HAND FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

ABSTRACT

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is defined as a systemic autoimmune pathology associated with a chronic inflammatory process, which can damage both joints and extra articular organs, including the heart, kidney, lung, digestive system, eye, skin, and nervous system. It is an inflammatory autoimmune disease involving symmetric joints and is generally characterised by persistent pain, tenderness, and destruction of joints. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between grip strength and self reported hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 40 participants with RA from the rheumatology department, University of Benin Hospital. The Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic data and function of the hand/wrist. A handheld jamar dynamometer was used to measure grip strength. Descriptive and inferential statistics of Pearson’s correlation and Chi square were used to summarise the data. Alpha level was 0.05. Results: Mean grip strength values were 10.44 (± 1.65) for the dominant hand and 8.86 (± 2.28) for the non-dominant hand. Mean overall score on the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire was 67.76 (± 14.4). Hand function was significantly correlated with both dominant (r = 0.554, p < 0.001) and non-dominant hand grip strength (r = 0.507, p < 0.001). There was a significant negative relationship between age and dominant hand grip strength (r = -0.405, p = 0.01). There was a significant positive relatioship between both hand function (r = 0.554, p < 0.001) and non dominant hand grip strength (r =0.507, p < 0.001) There was no significant relationship between gender and either of hand grip strength or hand function. Conclusion: There is a significant positive correlation between handgrip strength and hand function among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Age was observed to have a negative relationship with dominant hand grip strength, but not with hand function. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, grip strength, self-reported hand function.