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Brief Report  |   July 2009
Reliability of the Box and Block Test of Manual Dexterity for Use With Patients With Fibromyalgia
Mark L. Canny; Jeffrey M. Thompson; Mikel J. Wheeler
Author Affiliations
  • Mark L. Canny, OTR, is Staff Therapist, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Jeffrey M. Thompson, MD, is Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905; thompson.jeffrey@mayo.edu
  • Mikel J. Wheeler, COTA, is Staff Therapist, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Article Information
Musculoskeletal Impairments / Departments / Brief Report
Brief Report   |   July 2009
Reliability of the Box and Block Test of Manual Dexterity for Use With Patients With Fibromyalgia
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, July/August 2009, Vol. 63, 506-510. doi:10.5014/ajot.63.4.506
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, July/August 2009, Vol. 63, 506-510. doi:10.5014/ajot.63.4.506
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of the Box and Block (B&B) Test of Manual Dexterity for upper-extremity function in patients with fibromyalgia and to compare their results with those of healthy control participants.

METHOD. We assessed reliability of the B&B Test within and between testers using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). We compared fibromyalgia patient (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) scores using analysis of variance and population-based normative data.

RESULTS. The B&B Test was reliable with ICCs of .90 to .85. Fibromyalgia patients’ B&B Test scores were significantly lower (more impaired) than those of the control group and standardized norms.

CONCLUSIONS. The B&B Test is a reliable measure of upper-extremity function in fibromyalgia patients and is able to reveal a reduction in upper-extremity function in these patients compared with both healthy control participants and normative scores.