BOX AND BLOCK TEST (BBT)
Objective
The BBT aims to assess manual dexterity in people with conditions that affect hand function, such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and other neurological diseases.
Procedure
The test consists of a box with two compartments and 150 cubes of different colors. The participant must transfer as many cubes as possible from one compartment to the other in one minute. It is performed first with the less affected hand and then with the more affected hand.
Cultural Adaptation and Translation
The BBT has recently been adapted and translated into Spanish for use with Spanish-speaking adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) (Noce et al., 2024). This process included direct translation, review by a committee of experts, back-translation, and pilot testing with patients to ensure the clarity and applicability of the instructions.
Importance in Rehabilitation
The BBT is important for planning effective rehabilitation strategies and monitoring the recovery of manual dexterity. Its use in the Spanish-speaking population allows for accurate and consistent assessment, facilitating comparison of results and monitoring progress.
Pilot Test Results
In the pilot study with 14 adults with ABI, the Spanish version of the BBT was found to be adequate for assessing manual dexterity, showing significant differences between the most affected and least affected hands.
Conclusion
The Box and Block Test is a good tool for assessing manual dexterity in the rehabilitation of people with ABI. The Spanish version improves the accessibility and accuracy of the assessments in the Spanish-speaking population, contributing to better rehabilitation outcomes.
The score is obtained from the total number of times the person carries blocks to the other side of the wall.
AUTHORSHIP:
This tool was designed by Mathiowetz and colleagues in 1985, and the Spanish version by Noce and colleagues in 2024.