• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.950-965
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• 2017

This present study proposed a newly developed test method to evaluate the dexterity and mobility of a firefighter's protective gloves. The first step evaluated the mobility and dexterity of the current type of fire protective gloves and three new types of protective gloves using Don-doff test, ASTM dexterity, Minnesota dexterity, Bennett hand tool test, and ASTM torque test. Three firefighters ($47.3{\pm}5.0yr$ in age, $178.6{\pm}2.9cm$ in height) participated in a series of experiments. The second step was to design and suggest an integrated test method based on the results of the first experiment. As a result of the first experiment, we concluded that 1) the mobility and dexterity tests for firefighting gloves should include both wet and dry tests, 2) The three kinds of dexterity tests could be integrated into one test, and 3) The don-doff test and the torque test should be independent from the newly developed integrated test. In summary, we suggested a simplified test method that combined ASTM dexterity, Minnesota dexterity, and Bennett hand tool test. The integrated system can reduce total time spent on dexterity tests and improve the validity of the test in terms of firefighters' manual work.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between hand dexterity and visual-motor skills of preschoolers. We searched for the correlation between two test results, which were the 9-Hole Peg Test performance time and the visual motor integration test(VMI) performance score. Then, we also compared the 9-Hole Peg Test performance times with the VMI performance scores according to sex and age. Method : The participants were fifty normal children ranging in age from four to six years living in Busan. We used two test methods which have high reliability and validity. One was the 9-Hole Peg Test to evaluate hand dexterity, and the other was the VMI to the evaluate visual-motor skills of these young children. Results : First, over the entire range of the participating children, there was a high correlation between the performance times from the 9-Hole Peg Test and the VMI performance scores(r=-.682). Second, there was not a statistically significant difference between the performance times from the 9-Hole Peg Test and the VMI scores according to sex. Third, there were significant differences between the hand dexterity and visual-motor skills according to the children's age(p<.001). Conclusion : This study proved that there is high correlation between hand dexterity and visual-motor skills of the preschooler. Occupational therapists in preschool service should consider that visual-motor skills need to be compatible with hand dexterity in both evaluation and therapy. In addition, hand dexterity and visual-motor skills improved according to advances in age, so we must give graded tasks to proper age groups through concrete analysis of activity. By doing this, children can get the better therapeutic effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the changes in the handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function according to the presence or absence of gloves and types of gloves. METHODS: Seventy-six adults in their twenties (male: 24, female: 52, mean age 21.04 years) were the subjects of this study. The handgrip strength, dexterity, and hand function were evaluated with bare hands without gloves, poly gloves, and latex gloves. The handgrip strength was measured using a dynamometer, and three pinch strength tests were performed: tip pinch, lateral pinch, and three-jaw pinch. The hand dexterity was evaluated using the Minnesota manual dexterity test, and the hand function was evaluated using the Jabson-Taylor hand function test. RESULTS: There was no difference in the grip strength depending on whether the gloves were worn. The hand grip, dexterity, and hand function showed significant differences according to the type of glove. Regarding the handgrip, dexterity, and hand function, the latex glove had the best function, and the poly glove had the lowest function. CONCLUSION: There was a difference in dexterity among the hand functions but no difference in grip strength according to the type of glove. The results suggest that the use of latex gloves in daily life be recommended.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to systematically review the correlation between hand dexterity and cognitive function in the elderly, and summarize various evaluation tests and results analysis methods for manual dexterity tests applied to this population. Methods : We searched published studies in the Korean Studies Information Service System and PubMed databases from January 2013 to March 2023. The main keywords used were "dexterity," "fine motor," "elderly," "cognitive function," and "correlation." A total of 10 studies were selected for analysis from the 1,524 searched articles. The included studies consisted of a cohort study, a longitudinal study, and eight cross-sectional studies which were analyzed for patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes. Results : Analyzing the qualitative level of 10 studies, 8 articles (80%) were non-randomized two-group studies that provided level II evidence whereas the remaining 2 studies (20%) were non-randomized single-group studies (level III evidence). Therefore, these results indicated that the level of evidence in this field is generally high. The Purdue pegboard test was the most commonly used evaluation test for manual dexterity, and velocity speed was the most frequently employed analysis method. Results indicated that there were significant differences in manual dexterity test between the normal elderly, those with mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. Conclusions : These results can be used as a basis for selecting dexterity test evaluation items and methods to analyze it in the elderly while screening for cognitive impairment. In addition, this study highlights potential areas for future research on the development of manual dexterity evaluation tools and techniques for analysis and the need for more reliable and valid methods for assessing cognitive function in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.921-935
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• 2016

This research analyzed the manual performance of firefighting protective gloves on global markets in order to suggest an evaluation method for firefighting protective gloves wearing comfort. We collected 13 types of firefighting gloves from domestic and international markets (7 types from Korea, 3 types form Europe, 2 types from the U.S and 1 type from Japan). We set the Don-Doff test as a basal requirement for moving toward to further manual performance tests that consist of: ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. All gloves were evaluated in dry and wet conditions, we included eight current male firefighters ($43.4{\pm}7.0yr$ in age, $173.1{\pm}4.4cm$ in height, $79.9{\pm}9.2kg$ in body mass) for the tests. Four gloves (1 Korea, 1 U.S, 1 Germany, and 1 Japan) out of thirteen firefighting gloves passed the Don-Doff test and had great subject preferences. There was no significant difference between dry and wet conditions on the ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. However, Japanese gloves had the greatest score and showed 3-4 times faster completion time on the ASTM dexterity test (p<.05), 1.2-1.5 times faster on the Minnesota dexterity test (p<.05), as fast as the bare hand on Bennett hand tool test (p<.05), and greater performance on the ASTM torque test compared to bare hand. In conclusion, Don-Doff test in wet conditions should be the first step for a mobility evaluation of domestic firefighting protective gloves; subsequently, a comprehensive test assorting ASTM, Minnesota, and Bennett test should be developed as a second step. The current ASTM torque test can be adopted as a third step. This three-step-method for evaluating firefighting protective glove mobility can be expected to expand into surveys of other safety gloves in Korea.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.588-594
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of making an origami crane on the improvement of hand dexterity. Subjects composed of 20 normal adult males were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups of 10 people respectively. For the experimental group, a training of making an origami crane was conducted for 40 to 50 minutes a day during a 4-week training period. The control group was made to engage in everyday activities as usual. For pre and post assessment, Groove Pegboard test, Purdue Pegboard Test, and Jebsen Hand Function Test were used. The results on the effects of making an origami crane showed that there was a statistically significant difference in both the Grooved Pegboard test and Purdue Pegboard test(p<.05). In the Jebsen hand function Test, a significant difference was found in handwriting and building pieces of chess(p<.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in comparison with the right hand during the average performance of picking up small stuffs. The activity of making an origami crane for normal adults was confirmed to be helpful to improve the hand dexterity. Accordingly, making an origami crane is suggested to be an effective way to improve the hand dexterity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.43-47
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this preliminary study was to use hand function tests to Hand dexterity levels provided by the type of compression garment and compression bandages in asymptomatic subjects and to collect baseline data for the comparison of hand functions in the patients with chronic arm lymphedema. Methods: The subjects of this study were 32 healthy volunteer female with a mean age of 45.8 years. Grip strength and hand functions were tested in three conditions-no compression, compression garment, and compression bandages-using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), the box and block test (B&BT), Minnesota Manual Dexterity test (MMDT), and the hand-held Jamar dynamometer. Results: The grip strength was significantly low in the bandage condition (p<0.05). The performance in both compression groups (i.e., bandage and compression garment) decreased as the thickness of the compression material increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that grip strength and hand function scores are influenced by the characteristics of the compression applied. Future study is needed to determine the level of hand function between patients with chronic arm lymphedema and healthy individuals.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to in this study. The maximum grip force of the elderly hand was measured using a custom-designed grasping apparatus mounted with five three-component force transducers. The Jebsen-Tayler hand function test and Purdue Pegboard test were performed to evaluate the dexterity of the hand. Method: Twenty-six elderly women participated in the left hand between the maximum grip force and the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test results (r=-.513, p=.007). A significant correlation was also shown in the hand maximum grip force and the hand Purdue Pegboard results (r=.514, p=.007). However, no significant correlation was found in the right hand. Results: We found a significant correlation investigate the relationship between hand grip strength and hand dexterity in the elderly. Conclusion: Our findings in the current study support the theory of 'Strength-dexterity complementariness' which states that improvement in dexterity is associated with the grip force strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.685-692
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of repetitive hand task on upper extremity proprioception and dexterity. Methods : Experimental group who had done hand task since last 1 year and young adult control group was recruited this study. Proprioception was measured positioning errors of elbow and wrist on three dimensional coordinate system by Winarm software(Zebris Medcal GmbH, Germany). And dexterity was measured by box and block test. Statistical analysis was used independent t -test. Results : When elbow moved from flexion to extension, there were significant difference on error of x axis in wrist location and erros of x, z axis in shoulder location(p<.05). When wrist moved from flexion to extension, there was significant difference on y axis in finger location error(p<.05). And there significant difference on dexterity(p<.05). Conclusion : In conclusion, repetitive hand task increase upper extremity proprioception and dexterity. The physical therapy in industrial workers should inhibit overuse injury.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.11-21
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to provide the material about the treatment effect of hand function training and writing training being performed as a part of treatment to improve the function of the non-dominant hand of the patients whose dominant hand is damaged and thus need to improve their non-dominant hand's function. Method : During one month of November, 2013, this study randomly chose five study subjects for hand function training, five for writing training, and ten of control group from 20 normal male and female adults going to K Univ. in Busan. All study subjects fully understood all of the training course, agreed to take the test in this study, and volunteered to participate in the test. Each training was performed five times for two weeks, 30 minutes each time. For measurement, Purdue pegboard was used to look into the change of hand dexterity. To investigate an improvement in hand function through hand function training and writing training, this study conducted early evaluation before training, interim evaluation, and final evaluation. Result : First, according to the comparison of dominant hand dexterity by group and by method during a training period, the groups of hand function training and of writing training improved dominant hand dexterity more than the control group. Secondly, according to the comparison of non-dominant hand dexterity by group during a training period, the groups of hand function training and of writing training improved dexterity more than the control group. According to the comparison of non-dominant hand dexterity by method during a training period, there was no big difference in dexterity between the groups of hand function training and of writing training and the control group. But, the group of hand function training showed a further improvement. Thirdly, according to the comparison of both-hand dexterity by group and by method during a training period, the groups of hand function training and of writing training improved both-hand dexterity more than the control group. Fourthly, according to the comparison of both-hand handling ability by group and by method during a training period, the groups of hand function training and of writing training improved both-hand handling ability more than the control group. Conclusion : Given the study result, it is considered that hand function training and writing training help brain damaged patients improve their hand function for their daily activity. And it will be meaningful to research brain damaged patients' motor skills after their brain damage, and the patients who have low abilities of visual perception and cognition. In the future, it will be necessary to secure more study subjects and perform systematic training during a sufficient test period.