Measuring Method; Simulation During Test; Finger Testing - Martin Vigorimeter Instrucciones Para El Uso

Directions for Use
Vigorimeter
2

Measuring method

The muscle force is transfered from the hand to the rubber ball, and the air pressure from the
rubber ball to the pressure gauge. The ball is tightly fitted on the hose and pressure gauge.
Both parts of the cone are tightly fitted together by a quick turn so that air cannot escape.
The patient is given the ball that has already been connected to the pressure gauge in a way
that the ball rests in the patient's hollow hand with its largest volume and the hose on the
neck of the ball protrudes between thumb and index finger. The fingers that surround the ball
should be quickly closed to a fist and by doing so should press the ball together. The finger tips
should also be involved when closing the fingers to a fist, that means they should firmly press
into the ball.
3

Simulation during test

By using the bulb of medium size, it is possible to employ a greater strength than with the
large size bulb. When comparing the results obtained with both these bulbs, you arrive at a
difference of 20 – 30 %. However, from the physical point of view, positive rules or relations
cannot be established.
In case where by no obvious reason the values found should prove to be extremely low, it will
be advisable to repeat the test, using another bulb. If the result should considerably deviate
from the difference of 20 – 30 %, the patient should be suspected of simulation, an exception
being isolated lesions of some peripheric arm nerves. Physiologically taken, an insignificant
decline may happen (less than 10 %) in case measuring is being successively performed
without any interval with the same bulb in the same hand. However, after some minutes rest,
this decline will be entirely compensated. In case of several repeated tests, the results will
rather often be better.
4

Finger testing

The patient should exert a slight pressure between the thumb and the respective finger, while
the practitioner will hold the neck of the bulb.
Another possibility:
Place the small bulb under the prominence of the respective finger, the bulb pointing at the
wrist (the thumb will not be used). The pressure exerted should be as strong as possible.
Test the thumb as follow: Place the small bulb between thumb and metacarpus II (finger
outstretched) and perform an energetic adduction. In order to test the force of the opposition,
the patient should place the bulb between the prominences of the fingers IV and V, while the
thumb exerts an energetic pressure on the bulb.
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