Effect of Grip Span on Lateral Pinch Grip Strength

Abstract

Repetitive, high-force pinch grip exertions are common in many occupational activities. The goal of the current study was to quantify the relationship between lateral pinch grip span (distance between thumb and index finger) and lateral pinch grip strength. An experiment was conducted in which 40 participants performed maximal lateral pinch grip exertions at 11 levels of grip span distances (0, 10%, ... 100% of maximum functional lateral pinch grip span distance). The results show a significant effect of lateral pinch grip span, with strength at the maximum functional lateral pinch grip span 40% higher than that found at the smallest lateral pinch grip span considered. Between these two endpoints, strength increased monotonically with increasing pinch grip span. The application of these results in pinch grip design criteria for both high-force and long-duration exertions is discussed. Potential applications of this research include the design of hand tools and controls for which significant force is applied by the user.

Effects of grip type and wrist posture on forearm EMG activity, endurance time and movement accuracy

“…This was expected due to the biomechanics and force producing properties of the grip and pinch types (Shivers et al, 2002;Greig and Wells, 2008;Oatis, 2008). There is an attraction to using power grips as they are stronger so hence require lower percentages of MVC than pinch grips.…”

“…Chao et al (1976) estimated that joint and tendon loading can be as much as five times greater for a pinch grip than for a power grip. It is important to understand the biomechanical properties of pinch grip exertions so that design principles and intervention strategies may be implemented that help reduce discomfort, fatigue and musculoskeletal injury of the upper limb (Shivers et al, 2002). It is clear that when an object is held with a force that is high there is a chance of accelerated muscle fatigue (Augurelle et al, 2003).…”

Using kinematic reduction for studying grasping postures. An application to power and precision grasp of cylinders

“…Hand posture introduces constraints on the strength that can be exerted to complete a given task (Domalain et al, 2008;Rossi et al, 2012;Shivers et al, 2002;Watanabe et al, 2005), and affects the distribution of contact pressure and comfort rating (Aldien et al, 2005;Youakim, 2009). Hand posture also affects tendon loads and excursions, and stresses on adjacent tissues such as synovial membranes and nerves (An et al, 1983;Lee et al, 2008), which is associated with the risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) (Laoopugsin and Laoopugsin, 2012;Wells et al, 1994).…”

Influences of Tactile Sensation on Pinch Force under Loaded and Unloaded Conditions

“…High-force pinch tasks are common risk factors associated with the development of hand cumulative trauma disorders in many occupational activities (Eksioglu et al, 1996;Shivers et al, 2002). Some cumulative trauma disorders also present symptoms which include a diminished sense of touch which disallows workers from performing tasks such as pinching (Sesek et al, 2007).…”