Author Topic: Time constraints and the 9-hole peg test  (Read 99 times)

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Offline agate

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Time constraints and the 9-hole peg test
« on: April 29, 2014, 07:25:08 am »
The 9-hole peg test is often mentioned in studies of MS as one of the ways of evaluating a person's level of disability.

Here's a description of the 9-hole peg test:

Quote
Nine Hole Peg Test Instructions

General Information:

 The Nine Hole Peg Test should be conducted with the dominant arm first.

 One practice trial (per arm) should be provided prior to timing the test.

 Timing should be performed with a stopwatch and recorded in seconds.

 The stop watch is started when the patient touches the first peg.

 The stop watch is stopped when the patient places the last peg in the container.
 
Set-up (Mathiowetz et al, 1985):

 A square board with 9 holes,

● holes are spaced 3.2 cm (1.25 inches) apart

● each hole is 1.3 cm (.5 inches) deep

 9 wooden pegs should be .64 cm (.25 inches) in diameter and 3.2 cm (1.25 inches) long

 A container that is constructed from .7 cm (.25 inches) of plywood, sides are attached (13 cm x 13 cm [5.11 in x 5.11 in]) using nails and glue

 The peg board should have a mechanism to decrease slippage. Self-adhesive bathtub appliqués were used in the study.
 
 The pegboard should be placed in front of the patient, with the container holding the pegs on the side of the dominant hand.
 
 
Patient Instructions (Mathiowetz et al, 1985):

 The instructions should be provided while the activity is demonstrated.

 The patient’s dominant arm is tested first.

 Instruct the patient to:

● “Pick up the pegs one at a time, using your right (or left) hand only and put them into the holes in any order until the holes are all filled. Then
remove the pegs one at a time and return them to the container. Stabilize the peg board with your left (or right) hand. This is a practice test. See how fast you can put all the pegs in and take them out again. Are you ready? Go!”

 After the patient performs the practice trial, instruct the patient:

● “This will be the actual test. The instructions are the same. Work as quickly as you can. Are you ready? Go!” (Start the stop watch when the
patient touches the first peg.)

● While the patient is performing the test say “Faster”

● When the patient places the last peg on the board, instruct the patient: “Out again…faster.”

● Stop the stop watch when the last peg hits the container.

 Place the container on the opposite side of the pegboard and repeat the instructions with the non-dominant hand.

A recent study has determined that a person's performance on this test has a direct relationship to the "annualized cost of MS." The abstract for the study can be seen here.

I've never taken this test, but I am sure that having someone say "Faster!" would cause me to start dropping the pegs and missing the holes.

I can speed up a task if I can decide how and when to speed it up. When I have to speed it up because of an external obligation being imposed on me, I start having big problems.

I can't meet deadlines unless they are very liberal and flexible. I can't do any game where a time limit is imposed. I can do games where I have as much time as I want but whoever finishes first gets the highest score. In a case like that, I try to forget about the time because after all, I don't have to finish by any particular time. The worst that can happen is that I'll finish dead last.

Finishing last doesn't bother me. Not winning games doesn't bother me at all either.

Having someone tell me I have to move faster upsets my applecart, not emotionally but physically.

I'm not sure why this is but my guess is that others with MS do badly on this test because they're being obliged to speed up.

One way to do better on the test might be to ignore completely any urgings to speed up. Just move along at your own pace....



« Last Edit: April 29, 2014, 08:52:26 am by agate »
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SPMS, diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2007-2010. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate 40mg 3 times/week) since 12/16/20.