Grip Strength Normative Data For the Harpenden Dynamometer

Abstract

Grip strength measurement provides an objective index about the functional integrity of the upper extremities. The Harpenden(R) dynamometer is a new mechanical device used to assess grip strength; however, there is a dearth of information on its ability to reproduce results and a scarcity of norms to which patient data can be compared. The purposes of this study were to determine the reliability of the Harpenden dynamometer and to establish normative data for the dynamometer. In a pilot study, the authors recruited 120 college students (60 male and 60 female) and measured their right and left hand grip strength on two different occasions 1 week apart. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between the readings on day one and day two, and all Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (calculated for the male and female data separately and combined) were greater than 0.90 (p < 0.001). During the main study, grip strength of both extremities was measured in 960 subjects (480 men and 480 women) ranging in age from 7 to 84 years. In both hands, grip strength increased with chronological age and peaked between 30-39 years in males and 20-29 years in females. The student t-test result revealed that grip strength in males was consistently higher (p < 0.01) than females for all ages except during the first decade of life. After 30, male grip strength is nearly double female grip strength. The paired t-test showed that right hand grip strength was significantly (p < 0.0001) greater than left hand grip strength at all ages. The one-way analysis of variance and Scheffé post hoc test for strength data in both extremities revealed that, in general, there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in grip strength with each corresponding decade. The authors have presented grip strength norms for both sexes at different ages and discussed the clinical relevance of their findings. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;14(4):155-160.

Handgrip strength testing: A review of the literature

“…correlation coefficients and ICCs ≥ 0.90) (Portney & Watkins, 1993). The Tekdyne dynamometer, modified sphygmomanometer, and Harpenden dynamometer also have test‐retest reliability results suitable for clinical applications (Balogun et al , 1991a, 1991c; Stephens et al , 1996b).…”

“…Mechanical instruments record grip strength based on the amount of tension produced in a steel spring (Richards & Palmiter‐Thomas, 1996). They include the Smedley (Therapeutic Instruments, Cliftin, NJ, USA) or Stoelting dynamometer (Mathiowetz, 1991); the Harpenden dynamometer (British Indicators Ltd, England), which is similar to the Smedley (Balogun et al , 1991a); the Kny‐Scheerer Corp. dynamometer (Kny‐Scheerer Corp., Germany) (Lunde et al , 1972); the Collins dynamometer (Gebrüder Martin, Germany), which is also described as a steel spring dynamometer (Solgaard et al , 1984); and the My‐Gripper (Yamasa, Tokei, Japan) (Solgaard et al , 1984). Grip strength is measured in kilograms or pounds of force.…”

Effect of Task Direction on the Maximal Pushing, Pulling, Twisting, and Grip Forces

“…The observed grip forces in this study (250N for male and 135N for female) are far less than maximal voluntary grip strength. The previously reported maximal grip force is above 350N for male and 200N for female (Balogun et al, 1991;Gunther et al, 2008;Mathiowetz et al, 1985;SizeKorea, 2012). When more than one muscle groups are activated simultaneously in a multi-task like in this study (i.e., pulling and gripping), each muscle group's force does not reach to the maximal force of single muscle group during their own exertion.…”

“…Normative maximal grip forces (Balogun et al, 1991;Gunther et al, 2008;Lin et al, 2013;Mathiowetz et al, 1985) are available for age and gender. Several factors influence the maximal grip force: age (Angst et al, 2010;Kong et al, 2009), gender (Dempsey and Ayoub, 1996;Morse et al, 2006), grip type (Dempsey and Ayoub, 1996;Kong et al, 2009), grip width (Dempsey and Ayoub, 1996;Jung et al, 2007;Kong et al, 2013;Lee et al, 2009;Shivers et al, 2002), muscle and tendon compliance (Loren et al, 1996), joint position (Berme et al, 1977), neurological problems (Boissy et al, 1999), and relevant body configurations (Balogun et al, 1991).…”

Dynamometric Grip Strength Assessment of Subjects Sixty Years and Older

“…Normative data on grip strength in older adults may be used to: interpret the patient's testing results, set realistic treatment goals, and determine the patient's abiity to return to hidher employment and leisure activities (Balogun, Adenlola, & Akinloye, 1991). A decline in grip strength due to aging may increase the assistance necessary for an individual to perform hisher daily tasks.…”