Measuring Mobility of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints II, III, IV, and V in the Dorso-Volar Plane

Abstract

An electronic gravity goniometer was developed for determining the passive range of movement of the MCP joints II, III, IV, and V in the dorso-volar plane by the use of preset torques. Test–retest measurements on 23 healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 57 demonstrated high intrarater and interrater agreement for determining the total range. In the determination of the amounts of flexion and extension the measurement of the flexion was less reliable. There was overall evidence of a declining tendency of reliability from MCP joint II to MCP joint V, probably caused by different reactions of the joints to repeated measurements. The higher total range of the MCP joints in women was principally caused by a higher range of extension. In the case of men and women the range of MCP joint V was noticeably greater than that of the other three joints. The mobility of the four MCP joints correlates relatively closely as a whole, however, in the case of the non-adjacent joints less closely than with the adjacent joints. Reliability and validity of the examination method were balanced against one another with regard to testing of the biomechanical pre-conditions for manual dexterity.