Baseline Hand Evaluation - 7-piece Set
Features Digital LCD 300 lb Hand Held Dynamometer & 60 lb Mechanical Pinch Grip
Baseline 7-piece ER LCD hand evaluation set includes the following instruments stored in a protective carrying case:
- ER LCD 300 pound capacity hydraulic hand dynamometer (blue)
- 60 pound capacity mechanical pinch gauge (blue),
- 6 inch stainless steel finger goniometer
- 2-point discriminator with 3rd point
- Wartenburg pinwheel
- Finger circumference gauge
- Functional finger motion gauge
- Protective Carrying Case
Dynamometer and pinch gauge have a 2 year manufacturer's warranty. CE Certified
Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer
The hand dynamometer can be used to measure grip strength. It is
calibrated in pounds and kilograms of force.
The grip handle is adjustable to accommodate various hand
sizes. Always use the same grip setting and dynamometer when
evaluating a specific subject for hand trauma or disease.
Set the handle to the desired position. Have the subject
hold the dynamometer in a comfortable position. The
shoulder should be adducted and neutrally rotated,
the elbow flexed to 90 degrees, and the forearm and
wrist should be in a neutral position. Have the subject
squeeze the handle using his/her maximum effort.
The red maximum pointer will remain at the subject’s maximum
reading until it is reset. The red maximum pointer must be reset
before each grip test. Rotate the small knurled knob on top of the
dial indicator in a counterclockwise direction until it rests against
the black pointer at the zero marking. Each grip test should be
repeated three times and the average result should be used.
Grip strength varies depending upon the size of the
object being grasped. The adjustable handle allows
for quantification of grip strength for different sized
objects.
To determine whether a subject is exerting maximum effort use the following
protocol:
• Take readings with adjustable handle in all five positions
• Test the normal hand and then the injured hand
• Repeat the test after five minutes
If maximum effort was exerted there should be approximately a 10% variation in the
two sets of test results.
Mechanical Pinch Gauge
The finger pinch gauge can be used to measure pinch strength. It is calibrated in pounds and kilograms of force.
Apply pinch force at the pinch groove while holding the pinch gauge between your thumb and finger(s).
When force is applied farther toward the tip the reading will be slightly higher. When force is applied farther toward the rear the reading will be
slightly lower.
The gauge must be “zeroed” before each pinch test. Grasp the knurled ring of the
dial indicator and rotate it until the zero on the dial indicator is directly under the
black pointer.
The red maximum pointer must be reset before each pinch test. Rotate the
small knurled knob on top of the dial indicator in a counterclockwise
direction until it rests against the black pointer at the zero
marking. The red maximum pointer will remain at the subject’s
maximum reading until it is reset.
Finger Goniometer
The finger goniometer can be used to measure active or passive joint
range of motion (ROM). It measures joint flexion and hyper-extension. It is calibrated in
degrees.
Align the fulcrum of the goniometer with the anatomical fulcrum of the joint being
measured. Place the flat arm of goniometer that is attached to the dial indicator on
the center of the limb
(or extremity) to me
measured. Hold both
arms of the goniometer
and move the joint
through its entire range-of-motion (this can be
done actively by the subject or passively by the examiner). The range of motion can be
read directly from the dial indicator.
3-Point Aesthesiometer
The aesthesiometer is a sensory device that measures a subject’s perception of the
cutaneous two-point threshold. The third point makes it possible to alternate between
single-and double-point stimulation without changing the distance setting. The
device is very lightweight so as not to influence the touch and/or pain threshold. The
tips are plastic to minimize the influence of temperature sensation.
Blindfold the subject or have the subject close his/her eyes. Set the two points close
together (minimal distance reading). Lightly touch both points simultaneously to the
subject’s skin. Ask the subject whether he/she feels one or two points. If the answer is
one point then reset the two points farther apart and repeat the test until the subject
reports that he/she feels two points. Read the two points’ cutaneous threshold directly
from the calibrated scale on aesthesiometer body.
During the trial, as a check, one point only should be used to touch the skin on some
trials. This can be done by using the convenient third point or by separating the two
points so that only one point can be used.
Different areas of the skin have markedly different two-point thresholds. It is
interesting to note that there is an increase in two-point cutaneous sensitivity brought
about by practice and a transfer effect from one symmetrical skin area to another after
practice on the first area.
Finger circumference gauge
The finger circumference gauge can be used to measure finger diameter and/or
swelling associated with edema. It is calibrated in inches and centimeters.
Wrap the webbing around
the finger to be evaluated.
Thread the webbing through
the eyelet on the ruler. Pull
the webbing tough and read
the finger circumference
measurement directly from the ruler.
Pinwheel
Use to elicit a
subject’s cutaneous
sensory and/or pain
perception. The test
elicits a gross yes/no (on/off) response. There is no specific calibration unit.
Move the pinwheel over the skin area to be tested. Ask the subject whether he/she
feels one or two points. If subject responds negatively the test may be repeated using
more pressure on the pinwheel.
Functional finger motion gauge
Measures composite finger flexion and thumb-finger opposition. It is calibrated in
centimeters.
Composite finger flexion: Place the flat end of the plastic gauge on the subject’’s
palmer crease and have the subject flex his/her fingers. Read the composite flexion of
each finger directly from the gauge (distance from the palmer crease to the fingertip
of the maximally flexed
fingers).
Thumb and finger
opposition: Have
the subject grasp the
smallest step possible
between the thumb
and finger. Repeat for
each finger (index,
middle, ring and pink).