Reliability and validity of the Manual Ability Measure-36 in persons with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Study designDescriptive, clinical measurement.IntroductionCharcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a genetic disorder that results in demyelination or axonal degeneration in peripheral nerves. Characteristic symptoms include decreased muscle strength and sensation, particularly in the hands and feet.PurposeExamine the reliability and validity of the Manual Ability Measure (MAM-36), a 36-item self-report questionnaire specific to hand function, in persons with CMT.MethodsFourteen participants with CMT completed the MAM-36 at two points one week apart. Participants were also administered performance-based tests for grip and pinch strength, dexterity, and sensation.ResultsThe test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the MAM-36 was 0.96. Pearson correlation coefficients showed fair to good relationships (r = 0.41–0.64) between the MAM-36 scores and most of the performance tests.ConclusionThe MAM-36 is a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring hand function during everyday tasks in persons with CMT.Level of evidenceIIb.