PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC
053 McKinly Lab
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware 19716-2590
Ph: (302) 831-8893
Fax: (302) 831-4468
www.udel.edu/PT/
Nine-Hole Peg Test (NHPT)
Description: Measure of finger/hand dexterity needed for some activities of daily living
Equipment: Stopwatch; instruction for construction of box, board, and pegs has been described 1, but commercial
versions are available and produce similar normative data 2
Therapist Instructions:
 The pegboard should be centered in front of the patient
 Pegs placed in the container on the same side as the hand being tested
 Mechanism to decrease slippage (e.g. Dycem or adhesive underneath board)
 Timer starts when patient touches first peg
 Timer stopped when last peg hits the container
Patient Instructions: “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 all the holes are filled. Then remove the pegs one at a time and return them to the container.
Stabilize the peg board with your other 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!”
“This will be the actual test. The instructions are the same. Work as quickly as you can. Are you ready? Go!”
[During the test] “Faster.” [As soon as the last peg is in the board] “Out again…faster.” 1
Interpretation:


Lower times = better scores
MDC in acute and chronic stroke = 32.8 seconds3
Age-Matched Norms2:
Age
Males: Right Hand
Mean in sec (SD)
Males: Left Hand
Mean in sec (SD)
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
56-60
61-65
66-70
71+
All ages
17.5 (1.73)
17.84 (2.22)
18.47 (2.94)
18.62 (2.3)
18.49 (2.42)
19.57 (2.69)
19.84 (3.1)
21.64 (3.39)
21.6 (2.98)
22.29 (3.71)
25.95 (4.54)
19.79 (3.66)
1
16.41 (1.65)
16.88 (1.89)
17.54 (2.70)
17.71 (2.12)
18.54 (2.88)
18.35 (2.47)
18.9 (2.37)
20.90 (4.55)
20.87 (3.50)
21.23 (3.29)
25.79 (5.60
18.99 (3.91)
Females: Right
Hand Mean in sec
(SD)
16.04 (1.82)
15.9 (1.91)
16.69 (1.7)
16.74 (1.95)
16.54 (2.14)
17.36 (2.01)
17.38 (1.88)
17.86 (2.39)
18.99 (2.18)
19.9 (3.15
22.49 (6.02)
17.67 (3.17)
Females: Left Hand
Mean in sec (SD)
17.21 (1.55)
16.97 (1.77)
17.47 (2.13)
18.16 (2.08)
17.64 (2.06)
17.96 (2.3)
18.92 (2.29)
19.48 (3.26)
20.33 (2.76)
21.44 (3.97)
24.11 (5.66)
18.91 (3.44)
Mathiowetz V, Weber K, Kashman N, Volland G . “Adult norms for the Nine-Hole Peg test of finger dexterity.” Occupational
Therapy J Res. 1985;5(1):24–38.
2
Oxford Grice, K., Vogel, KA, Le V, Mitchell A, Muniz S, Vollmer MA. "Adult norms for a commercially available Nine Hole
Peg Test for finger dexterity." American Journal of Occupational Therapy 2003; 57(5): 570-573.
3
Chen HM, Chen CC, Hsueh IP, Huang SL, Hsieh CL. “Test-retest reproducibility and smallest real difference of 5 hand
function tests in patients with stroke.” Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 2009;25(5):435–40.