10-Seconds Grip and Release Test – Cervical Myelopathy

The Grip and Release Test is used to assess the presence of cervical myelopathy. It evaluates patient’s ability to perform rapid, coordinated movements of fingers, providing valuable insights into the functionality of the cervical spine and nervous system.

How to perform the Grip and Release Test?

To perform the 10-Seconds Grip and Release Test, instruct the patient to open and close their fingers rapidly from full flexion to full extension. The patient should aim to complete this motion 20 times within a 10-second interval. Observing the patient’s ability to maintain speed and coordination during this test is crucial for accurate assessment.

What does a positive Grip and Release Test mean?

A healthy individual should be able to perform 20 rapid grip and release cycles in 10 seconds. This indicates normal motor function and an absence of significant neurological impairment in the cervical spine.

See Also: Dermatome Distribution

The 10-Seconds Grip and Release Test is considered positive for cervical myelopathy if:

• The patient cannot perform 20 grip and release cycles within the 10-second period.
• The movement slows down progressively over the 10 seconds.
• There is exaggerated wrist extension during finger extension or exaggerated wrist flexion during finger flexion.

A positive Grip and Release Test suggests the presence of cervical myelopathy, a condition where the spinal cord is compressed at the cervical spine. This compression can lead to various neurological deficits, including impaired motor function, sensory disturbances, and autonomic dysfunction.

See Also: Grip Strength Test

A recent pilot study explored the use of the 10-second grip-and-release test for screening degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) using a smartphone and machine learning. Conducted on 22 DCM patients and 17 controls, the study utilized a smartphone camera to record the test and a support vector machine algorithm to analyze the data. The model achieved a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 88.2%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93. This method offers a cost-effective, user-friendly screening tool for early DCM detection.

References & More

1. Orthopedic Physical Assessment by David J. Magee, 7th Edition.
2. Ono K, Ebara S, Fuji T, et al. Myelopathy hand. New clinical signs of cervical cord damage. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1987;69(2):215–219. Pubmed
3. Yukawa Y, Nakashima H, Ito K, et al. Quantifiable tests for cervical myelopathy; 10-sec grip and release test and 10-s step test: standard values and aging variation from 1230 healthy volunteers. J Orthop Sci. 2013;18(4):509–513. Pubmed
4. Ibara T, Matsui R, Koyama T, Yamada E, Yamamoto A, Tsukamoto K, Kaburagi H, Nimura A, Yoshii T, Okawa A, Saito H, Sugiura Y, Fujita K. Screening for degenerative cervical myelopathy with the 10-second grip-and-release test using a smartphone and machine learning: A pilot study. Digit Health. 2023 Jun 5;9:20552076231179030. doi: 10.1177/20552076231179030. PMID: 37312962; PMCID: PMC10259100. Pubmed