In the 1997 PD Rating Schedule, failure of the tip of the finger to touch the mid-palm on action flexion by 3 inches or more indicates which condition?

• A. Numbness
• B. Swelling
• C. Complete immobility of the fingers
• D. Pain

Answer: (C)

This item measures motor function of the fingers by how far you can actively bend a finger toward the palm. If, when you flex the finger, the fingertip cannot reach the mid-palm even though you flex it by a distance of 3 inches or more, that shows the finger’s motion is severely limited—essentially immobile. That level of impairment reflects complete immobility of the fingers.

Numbness describes sensory loss, not the ability to move the finger. Swelling is an edema issue, which may or may not affect motion but doesn’t by itself define immobility. Pain is a symptom that can accompany movement but does not specify the absence of movement. The stated finding directly indicates a loss of finger motion, hence complete immobility.