Development of a “Knot Tying Test”, a new method to evaluate the upper-extremity function

Abstract

The “Knot Tying Test”is a newly proposed procedure for evaluating upper limb function. This study investigated the frequency of attempts of this procedure required to obtain reproducible measurements, and its correlation with available upper limb function evaluation methods. The subjects were 20 female university students (age, 20.5± 1.1 years). The Knot Tying Test (conducted 5 times), Purdue Pegboard Test, and grip measurements were performed. The measurements of the Knot Tying Test stabilized from the second measurement onward, and the intraclass correlation coefficient calculated from the 2^nd and 3^rd measurements was 0.78, thus showing good reproducibility. Moreover,the Knot Tying Test correlated significantly with the Purdue Pegboard Test, which is an indicator of upper limb dexterity (r=0.45, p<0.05). Overall, the Knot Tying Test was shown to be an evaluation indicator that shows good reproducibility after two attempts or more,and it can be used to easily measure upper limb dexterity in a short amount of time without the need for a special device or location.