Grip and pinch strength: Normative data for healthy Indian adults

Abstract

Introduction Normative values of grip and pinch strength are used to determine the effect of treatment, to assess patients’ initial limitation and provide a baseline for re-assessment of patient progress. Data gathered from western populations cannot be used for reference in Indian populations due to variations in genetic, environmental and nutritional factors. Methods A convenience sample of 1005 healthy adults was recruited for this descriptive study. Grip and pinch strength were measured with elbow positioned at 0°, 45°, 90° and full elbow flexion using a JAMAR dynamometer and B&L Pinch gauge. Results Men presented significantly higher values for grip strength (p ≤ 0.001) at 0° of elbow flexion (37.8 kg) than women (22.12 kg). For remaining positions of the elbow, average grip strength values in men were 33 kg and in women were 20 kg. Men presented significantly higher values of tip, palmar and key pinch (3.9, 6.7 and 7.2 kg) than women (3.2, 4.71 and 4.81 kg). Grip strength was significantly different at different positions of the elbow (p ≤ 0.001); it was highest at 0° and lowest at 135° of elbow flexion among men. Conclusions Findings from study will provide reference values for grip, tip, palmar and key pinch strength for healthy Indian adults. Grip and pinch strength of healthy Indian adults is less compared with age and gender-matched population from other continents.

Reference values of intrinsic muscle strength of the hand of adolescents and young adults

“…This finding is similar to previous studies on pinch and grip strength in both children and adults. 30,31 Dianat et al 32 compared 4 types of pinch strength between males and females between 7 and 30 years and found that males showed significantly higher strength compared with females in both the dominant and nondominant sides on all 4 strength tests. McQuiddy et al 30 also found that sex is a factor influencing grip and pinch strength in children and adolescents between 6 and 19 years.…”

Investigating interrelationships between Lower Palaeolithic stone tool effectiveness and tool user biometric variation: implications for technological and evolutionary changes

“…In this instance, the participants pinched the distal aspects of the first and second distal phalanxes, with the first digit opposing from the superior surface of the pinch point, while the second digit opposed from the inferior surface (Figure 1). Both pinch measures are frequently used to record precision manipulative strength in the medical literature (e.g., Mathiowetz et al, 1985;Mullerpatan et al, 2013). The ability of humans to produce forceful precision grips, such as the 'pad-to-side' and 'tip-to-tip' pinch, is considered unique amongst primates and is widely reported as having been essential to the use of stone tools (e.g., Marzke and Shackley, 1986;Marzke and Wullstein, 1996;Marzke, 1997;Marzke et al, 2015).…”

Hand Extension Robot Orthosis (HERO) Grip Glove: enabling independence amongst persons with severe hand impairments after stroke

“…The HERO Grip Glove generated greater grip and pinch forces (12.7 N and 11.0 N on average) than many previous devices [12-14, 16, 43] and these forces enabled participants to grasp objects that they could not grasp otherwise. However, larger grip forces should be strived for if these forces do not sacrifice other usability criteria, since these grip forces are less than agematched norms of 294-542 N [44] and certain everyday tasks and sports activities, such as closing zippers, inserting a fork into dense food, writing with a standard pen and holding a tennis racquet, golf club or fishing rod, can require greater than 15 N of grip and pinch force [10,45]. In addition, standardized equipment and protocols are needed to evaluate the force, pressure and kinematic outputs of soft hand robots on the finger joints and skin before definitive comparisons can be made (e.g.…”