Functioning of persons with distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
Functioning of persons with distal upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
Persons with musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity (hand, wrist, forearm and elbow) often experience complaints such as pain and difficulty performing daily activities. Hand therapy and rehabilitation aim to improve their functioning. To achieve this, it is important to measure how these patients function and where exactly their limitations lie.
There are different ways to assess this functioning. A healthcare professional can make an assessment, but patients can also complete questionnaires themselves or perform hand function tests. However, it is not yet clear how reliable and useful these measurement instruments are for persons with these specific disorders of the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow. Physical fitness (such as aerobic capacity and endurance) has also been studied to a limited extent, even though it is important for daily functioning.
This thesis of Redmar Berduszek examines several aspects of the assessment of functioning in persons with musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity. It compares, among other things, the level of pain and limitations reported by patients with clinicians’ corresponding estimates, studies the measurement properties of three questionnaires, develops a shorter version of a functional hand/arm test, and evaluates the physical fitness of patients with these disorders.
The results show that both questionnaires and functional tests are important in assessing the functioning of these patients. This thesis supports healthcare professionals in choosing the appropriate measurement methods, enabling them to better guide patients in their recovery.