| The purpose of this study was to determine the minimal detectable change (MDC) at 68%, 90%, and 95% confidence levels for grip strength using a Jamar RTM hand dynamometer in healthy women and women 2--12 months following carpal tunnel release. Subjects (N = 43; M = 48.6 yrs; SD = 7.3) consisted of 30 healthy and 13 post-operative women. Grip strength, pain, and function were measured and re-measured within 3--7 days. MDC was calculated at different confidence levels for each group. Results indicated MDC95 for healthy subjects was 3 kg (7 lb) for the right and left hand. For the surgical subjects, MDC 95 was 4 kg (91b) on the right, and 5 kg (11 lb) on the left. In conclusion, clinicians can be 95% confident that a 4--5 kg (9--11 lb) difference is a meaningful change in grip strength for middle-aged women following carpal tunnel release. |
