Reference value for the six-minute peg board and ring test. A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: In our daily life, arm activities, whether supported or unsupported play a major role. Both simple and omplex activities require the muscles, namely trapezius, pectoralis minor, scalene, and intercostals, to participate in arm positioning. These muscles also enact as the accessory respiratory muscles. Therefore, arm elevation increases the load on these muscles and they fail to perform dual activities, resulting in arm fatigue and a feeling of dyspnoea in healthy individuals as well as in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Various upper limb exercise tests were designed to measure this impairment, one of them being the six-minute peg board and ring test. The aim of the study is to derive a reference value for the six-minute peg board and ring test among healthy Indian population (Mangalore) from the age of 20-70 years of either gender. Also, to find a correlation among the number of rings and body mass index, arm length, arm and forearm circumference, the strength of shoulder and elbow flexors-extensors, grip strength of both sides and level of physical activity.Methods: Participants performed two tests, thirty minutes apart. They were asked to load as many rings as possible in 6 minutes. Arm length, arm and forearm circumference were measured with a measuring tape. Shoulder and elbow flexors-extensors were assessed using a handheld push-pull dynamometer. Grip strength was measured with the Jamar hand-held dynamometer. Level of physical activity was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire long form.Results: The samples consisted of 450 healthy individuals between the age of 20-70 years. Reference values for each age group for both genders were reported. We found that age was correlated with the six-minute peg board and ring test score (p<0.05). We also found a correlation between the strength variables and the test results (p=0.001). However, no correlation was found between the arm length, arm and forearm circumference and the level of physical activity with the number of rings.Conclusion: In this study, we derived a reference value for the six-minute peg board and ring test. There was a correlation amongn age, strength variables and the number of rings.

Reference Values for the Grocery Shelving Test among United Arab Emirates Population: A Cross Sectional Study

“…As the BMI calculation is based on height and body mass, it was not significantly correlated to the duration of the task. These results are in accordance with the studies performed on other unsupported upper limb tests [9,14].…”

“…The amount of response depends on the muscle mass involved in the task [17]. Similar increases in physiological parameters were seen in studies done on other upper limb functional tests [9,11].…”

“…Reductions in proprioceptive abilities and memory as age progresses could also contribute to this result [8]. A similar trend of decreasing performance is seen in studies conducted on other upper limb tests [9,14]. Lima et al [14] and Kulkarni et al [9] discovered that the number of rings moved in six minutes decreased as age increased in studies to determine the normative values of the six-minute peg board and ring test.…”

“…Dyspnea during upper limb activities can be due to the mechanical effects of arm elevation. The accessory respiratory muscles assist with the postural support of the arm, diminishing their participation in ventilation and shifting the respiratory work to the diaphragm [8,9]. Arm elevation increases functional residual capacity, possible mechanisms are the passive stretching of the thoracic muscles and the expansion of the rib cage, imposing a greater burden that must be overcome by the diaphragm [9,10].The reduction in upper limb muscle strength may increase arm fatigue, thereby contributing to the impairments [11].…”

Reference Values for the Grocery Shelving Test among United Arab Emirates Population: A Cross Sectional Study

“…Dyspnea during upper limb activities can be due to the mechanical effects of arm elevation. The accessory respiratory muscles assist with the postural support of the arm, diminishing their participation in ventilation and shifting the respiratory work to the diaphragm [4,5]. Arm elevation increases functional residual capacity, possible mechanisms are the passive stretching of the thoracic muscles and the expansion of the rib cage, imposing a greater burden that must be overcome by the 2 diaphragm [5.6].The reduction in upper limb muscle strength may increase arm fatigue, thereby contributing to the impairments [7].…”