Daily activities and hand function in women with scleroderma

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology 2004, Vol.33 (2), p.102-107
• Main Authors: Sandqvist, G, Eklund, M, Åkesson, A, Nordenskiöld, U
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ability; Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; altered working methods; assistive devices; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Medicine; daily activities; Disease Progression; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Finger Joint - physiopathology; hamis; hand function; Hand Strength; Humans; instrument; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; mobility; Pain Measurement; Probability; Quality of Life; questionnaire; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Reumatologi och inflammation; rheumatoid-arthritis; Rheumatology and Autoimmunity; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Scleroderma, Systemic - diagnosis; Scleroderma, Systemic - rehabilitation; Self-Help Devices - statistics & numerical data; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; systemic sclerosis; systemic-sclerosis scleroderma
• ISSN: 0300-9742; 1502-7732; 1502-7732
• DOI: 10.1080/03009740410006060

Objective: To give a detailed description of hand function and the ability to perform daily activities among patients with systemic sclerosis. Methods: Thirty patients with scleroderma answered a self-administered activities of daily living (ADL) questionnaire. Hand function was estimated with respect to hand mobility, dexterity, and grip force. Perceived symptoms were reported on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and skin thickness was assessed by means of the modified Rodnan skin score. Results: Finger flexion and extension were the most impaired aspects of hand mobility. Dexterity was on average reduced to 68-80%, and grip force to 46-65% compared with values for healthy persons. The predominant self-perceived problem was Raynaud's phenomenon, whereas pitting scars ulcers were perceived as the least problem. Activities building on hand and arm function were harder to perform than activities depending on lower limb function. Raynaud's phenomenon, stiffness, grip force, and dexterity were factors with the strongest associations with ADL difficulties. Assistive devices and alternative working methods improved ADL ability. Conclusion: Impaired hand function was related to ADL difficulties and the use of assistive devices improved ADL. This emphasizes the importance of treatments that improve hand function and of testing ergonomic tools.