summary: In some neurological diseases including MS, and in elderly people, the grip force used for daily activities is excessively high, provoking an unnecessary waste of energy. In this study the authors aimed to investigate in a group of people with MS whether there was also an increased grip force compared to a group of controls. The grip force was measured by using a cylindrical object containing meters to measure acceleration in the three planes of space. As expected, they found an increased grip force in people with MS compared to controls. The authors suggested that impaired sensitivity and increased safety margins when holding objects (to avoid slippage) could be playing a role. The authors also suggested that including grip force control as an endpoint in neurorehabilitation therapy in people with MS may help them to avoid trauma disorders and fatigue.

authors: Iyengar V, Santos MJ, Ko M, Aruin AS

source: Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2009 Jun 16

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category: Symptomatic Treatments and Rehabilitation

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