MEASUREMENT OF THUMB ABDUCTION STRENGTH - NORMATIVE DATA AND A COMPARISON WITH GRIP AND PINCH STRENGTH

Abduction strength of the thumb was measured in normal men (n=101; age range, 21-94 years) and women (n=208; age range, 20-97 years). Abduct ion-strength measurements were conducted concurrently with grip and pi nch strength measurements made by well-established clinical methods. N ormal values were established and stratified by age and sex. Thumb abd uction strength generally correlated with grip and pinch strength. All strength variables at all ages were greater in men than in women. The magnitude of all strength variables was maintained from 20 to 59 year s of age, then decreased with increasing age in both men and women. Me asurement of thumb abduction strength may prove to be a useful adjunct to the various tests currently used by hand surgeons to assess hand f unction.