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Hand strength and dexterity in individuals with hand eczema

Passlov, H. M. LU ; Pontén, A. LU ; Björk, J. LU ; Rosén, B. LU ; Bruze, M. LU ; Svedman, C. LU and Isaksson, M. LU (2020) In Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 34(12). p.2856-2862
Abstract

Background: Patients with hand eczema often describe symptoms such as pain, clumsiness and difficulty flexing their fingers, thus impairing the function of the hand. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hand eczema is associated with a measurable impairment of hand strength and dexterity. We also studied the relationship between hand function and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), pain level and quality of life measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods: Twenty-one participants with ongoing hand eczema were examined with well-established methods for measuring hand grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity. A questionnaire was designed to investigate perceived ability... (More)

Background: Patients with hand eczema often describe symptoms such as pain, clumsiness and difficulty flexing their fingers, thus impairing the function of the hand. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hand eczema is associated with a measurable impairment of hand strength and dexterity. We also studied the relationship between hand function and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), pain level and quality of life measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods: Twenty-one participants with ongoing hand eczema were examined with well-established methods for measuring hand grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity. A questionnaire was designed to investigate perceived ability to perform ADL. The participants were also asked to grade their current pain level, and the DLQI was used to assess the participants' quality of life. A group of 12 participants was reinvestigated when healed. Results: The participants demonstrated a significant improvement in all functional tests when healed. There was a strong correlation between ADL and both dexterity and hand grip strength. There was also a strong correlation between ADL and pain. All participants reported some difficulty performing ADL. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ongoing hand eczema may lead to a measurable decrease of strength and dexterity of the hand, leading to an impairment of the ability to perform ADL and consequently to a poorer quality of life.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
volume
34
issue
12
pages
7 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:32243631
  • scopus:85088291965
ISSN
0926-9959
DOI
10.1111/jdv.16401
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
71d29c4b-02c4-4b9b-8ea6-8bf7d2bea3b5
date added to LUP
2021-01-08 15:32:50
date last changed
2024-05-30 03:19:03
@article{71d29c4b-02c4-4b9b-8ea6-8bf7d2bea3b5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Patients with hand eczema often describe symptoms such as pain, clumsiness and difficulty flexing their fingers, thus impairing the function of the hand. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hand eczema is associated with a measurable impairment of hand strength and dexterity. We also studied the relationship between hand function and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), pain level and quality of life measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Methods: Twenty-one participants with ongoing hand eczema were examined with well-established methods for measuring hand grip strength, pinch strength and dexterity. A questionnaire was designed to investigate perceived ability to perform ADL. The participants were also asked to grade their current pain level, and the DLQI was used to assess the participants' quality of life. A group of 12 participants was reinvestigated when healed. Results: The participants demonstrated a significant improvement in all functional tests when healed. There was a strong correlation between ADL and both dexterity and hand grip strength. There was also a strong correlation between ADL and pain. All participants reported some difficulty performing ADL. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ongoing hand eczema may lead to a measurable decrease of strength and dexterity of the hand, leading to an impairment of the ability to perform ADL and consequently to a poorer quality of life.</p>}},
  author       = {{Passlov, H. M. and Pontén, A. and Björk, J. and Rosén, B. and Bruze, M. and Svedman, C. and Isaksson, M.}},
  issn         = {{0926-9959}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{2856--2862}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology}},
  title        = {{Hand strength and dexterity in individuals with hand eczema}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jdv.16401}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jdv.16401}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}