Kozo NAKAMURA, Katsushi TAKESHITA, Taro TANAKA, Atsushi SEICHI

Department of Orthopedics, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine

(Received 16 June 2004; accepted 24 August 2004)

Abstract: Forty-one patients with an average age of 64±9 years were recruited for this study from our clinic. In the 10-second grip and release test, the first of the two test administered, each patient was asked to grip and release as many times as possible during a ten second period. Our second test, the simple walking test, measured the time and number of steps a patient took to walk comfortably a distance of 15 meters and back. The 10-second grip and release test averaged 14.5 (±4.8). The time and number of steps for the simple walking test averaged 25.1 (±8.2) and 51.7 (±13.1), respectively. JOA motor function scores were also measured and these were 2.4 (±0.8) in the upper extremities and 2.3 (±0.9). The 10-second grip and release test correlated significantly (CC=0.37, p=0.02) with the JOA motor function score for the upper extremities. The time and number of steps required for the simple walking test correlated significantly with the JOA motor function score for the lower extremities (CC=0.41, p=0.009; CC=0.45, p=0.004). The 10-second grip and release test and the simple walking test can clearly delineate patients with spinal disorders and paraparesis and are therefore useful as diagnostic indicators.

Key words: cervical myelopathy, motor function