Background: Individuals with mental disorders (MD) often experience motor issues, yet upper limb functionality remains understudied. Objective: To compare upper limb function in individuals with and without MD, focusing on motor capacity, dexterity, and performance. Design: Cross-sectional, qualitative, multicenter study. Methods: Assessed strength, motor skills, sensitivity, and daily function. Used T-test, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation, and Chi-square.
Background: Research suggests individuals with mental disorders (MD) often face motor difficulties, such as issues with gait and posture. However, there is limited research on upper limb functionality in the mental health context. Objective: To compare upper limb functionality between individuals with and without MD, focusing on differences in motor capacity, manual dexterity, and functional performance. Study Design: Cross-sectional, qualitative, multicenter study. Methods: Strength, fine and gross motor skills, sensitivity, tactile discrimination, and were assessed, along with functional limitations in daily activities. Statistical methods used included independent samples T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation, and Chi-square test.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
38
University of Burgos
Burgos, Burgos, Spain
Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT)
Assesses fine manual dexterity. Participants place and remove nine pegs from holes as quickly as possible, using one hand at a time. The test is performed twice, and the average time is recorded. Lower scores indicate better fine motor skills. The NHPT has shown high test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency in previous studies, including Spanish-speaking populations.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Box and Block Test (BBT)
Measures gross manual dexterity. Participants move as many blocks as possible from one compartment of a box to another in one minute, using each hand separately. Blocks must be moved over a dividing wall without throwing or bumping. Higher scores indicate better gross dexterity. The BBT is widely used and validated across different populations.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Digital Hand Dynamometer
Evaluates grip strength. Participants squeeze a hydraulic hand dynamometer three times with each hand while seated with the elbow at 90°. The average of the three trials is used. Higher scores indicate greater grip strength. This test has strong validity, sensitivity, and reliability, including among Spanish-speaking populations.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament Test
Assesses tactile sensitivity. Monofilaments of varying thickness are applied to specific areas of the hand (fingertips, palm, back of the hand). The finest filament perceived consistently (at least 2 out of 3 times) is recorded as the sensitivity threshold. There is limited psychometric data available in Spanish-speaking populations, though the test is widely used clinically.
Time frame: 3 weeks
Two-Point Discrimination Test (Touch-Test)
Evaluates tactile discrimination ability. Two points are applied to the skin at decreasing distances until the participant can no longer distinguish them as separate. Tested on the same hand areas as the monofilament test. It assesses the density of tactile receptors and sensory pathway integrity. Psychometric properties in Spanish-speaking populations are not well established.
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Time frame: 3 weeks
QuickDASH Questionnaire
A shortened version of the DASH questionnaire, designed to evaluate disability and symptoms in the upper limb. It consists of 11 items rated on a 5-point scale. Higher scores indicate worse functional ability. Both the original and Spanish versions have demonstrated good reliability, internal consistency, sensitivity to change, and construct validity.
Time frame: 3 weeks