Abstract
In order to evaluate the function of the rheumatoid carpal bone, we measured the palmar pressure by using the hand print. Twenty patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied. We divided the palm pressure into four parts, the thenar, the mid-palmar, the hypothenar and the metacarpo-phalangeal portions. The palmar pressure of healthy hands had two peaks, in the thenar and the hypothenar portions. The center of pressure was slightly towards the radial side. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, the palmar pressure had only one peak, in the midpalmar portion, and the center of pressure was slightly towards the ulnar side. These findings suggest that this assessment system using hand prints is useful for making functional evaluations of rheumatoid hands.
