Nine-Hole Peg Test

Importance

Nine-hole peg test is a standardized, quick, and portable quantitative assessment used to measure finger dexterity.

(Gett & Romaniw, 2021)

Required Items

9-hole peg test
9 pegs
Timer
Container

Instructions

The therapist will demonstrate the test while verbally explaining it to the client.
The patient’s dominant arm is tested first then the non-dominant one after.
Therapist instructs patient to:
- “Pickup 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!” (Mathiowetz et al, 1985).
After the patient performs the practice trial for each hands, the therapist will instruct the patient:
- “This will be the actual test. The instructions are the same. Work as quickly as you can. Are you ready? Go!” (Mathiowetz et al, 1985).
  - The timer will as soon as the patient makes contact with the first peg.
- While the patient is performing the test say “Faster” (Mathiowetz et al, 1985).
- When the patient places the last peg on the board, instruct the patient “Out again…faster.” (Mathiowetz et al, 1985).
- Stop the timer when the last peg hits the container.

Normative Values

Therapist will compare the clients scores to average scores based on sex and age.

References

Gett, M., & Romaniw, A. (2021, October 19). Coordination [PowerPoint slides]. Department of Health Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Chatham University. https://mylearning.chatham.edu/d2l/le/content/21252/viewContent/292995/View

Mathiowetz, V., Volland, G., Kashman, N., & Weber, K. (1985). Adult norms for the box and block test of manual dexterity. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 39(6), 386–391. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.39.6.386

Ying-Chih, W., Bohannon, R.W., Kapellusch, J., Garg, A., & Gershon, R.C. (2015). Dexterity as measured with the 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) across the age span. Journal of Hand Therapy, 28, 53-60.