Values for timed limb coordination tests in a sample of healthy older adults

Background: timed limb coordination tests are reliable measures of motor performance but many lack published reference values. Objective: to determine mean values for timed tests in an older cohort, examining associations with anthropometric characteristics, handedness, gender and age. Design: cross-sectional. Setting: community. Subjects: sixty-nine healthy adults divided into three groups: 60–69, 70–79 and 80+ years. Methods: height, weight and time to complete five repetitions of finger-to-nose, pronation–supination, mass grasp, opposition and heel-on-shin were recorded. Performances were statistically compared with anthropometric characteristics, handedness and across age groups and gender. Results: for all tests, height negatively correlated with speed (r=�0.26 to �0.41). Weight negatively correlated with performance of two tests (r=�0.25 to �0.35). When covariates were controlled, men performed heel-on-shin faster than women. The youngest group completed upper extremity tests faster than the oldest. Adults in their 70 s completed fingerto-nose and pronation–supination faster than persons aged 80+ years. Conclusions: we report mean values for five clinical tests of timed limb coordination that may aid in identifying mild deficits in otherwise healthy older adults.