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Study Design N/A. Background One of the hand function assessment tools is the Box and Block Test (BBT). Purpose To examine if the BBT score is affected by grip surfaces. Methods Thirteen adults performed the BBT with wooden, rubber-covered, and paper-covered blocks. The BBT scores and time for seven movements (finger closing, contact to lift-off, transport before barrier, transport after barrier, release, return, and reach) were compared across the three block types. Results The mean BBT score was 8% higher for the rubber blocks than the paper and wooden blocks (p Conclusions Hand function assessments should be controlled for object surfaces. Therapists may vary grip difficulties by changing object surfaces. Redesigning daily objects with high-friction surfaces may increase grip function. Level of Evidence N/A.

Clinicians frequently use finger goniometers to measure joint range of motion (ROM) in the digits. Other methods of depicting finger ROM can be beneficial in situations where therapists may not have access to finger goniometers, patients want to self-assess ROM, or therapists want to visually and graphically see composite ROM in the digits. This author describes a technique to obtain diagrams of hand joint angles by using an improvised goniometer made from paper.—V ictoria P riganc , PhD, OTR, CHT, CLT, Practice Forum Editor