Maximum handgrip strength as a function of type of work and hand-forearm dimensions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength is a measurement of upper extremity functionality and an indicator of overall physical ability. OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study was to compare maximum handgrip strength (MGS) between manual workers and office employees and to investigate if the expected difference is related to the anthropometric dimensions of the workers' hands and forearms. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1740 male workers (905 light manual workers; and 835 office employees), aged 20-64 years. Maximum voluntary contractions were obtained using a JAMAR dynamometer according to the methodology proposed by the American Society of Hand Therapy (ASHT). The highest value obtained from three trials was considered as the MGS for each side. Six anthropometric dimensions (i.e., hand length, palm length, forearm length, hand breadth, wrist circumference and forearm circumference) were measured by digital caliper and tape measure. RESULTS: Maximum handgrip strength of light manual workers (52.7 ± 8.5 kg) was significantly higher than that of office employees (47.3 ± 8.4 kg) (p < 0.001). Maximum handgrip strength was positively correlated with Hand breadth (r = 0.781 for light manual workers and r = 0.766 for office employees; p < 0.001) and Forearm circumference (r = 0.741 for light manual workers and r = 0.752 for office employees; p < 0.001); the only dimensions which were significantly different between the two studied job groups. CONCLUSIONS:The results of this study revealed that light manual workers are approximately 12.4% stronger than office employees in terms of maximum handgrip force. It is therefore imperative to consider the observed differences in clinical, workstations, and hand tool designs in order to increase efficiency and comfort at work.

Are there sex differences in physiological parameters and reaction time responses to overload in firefighters?

“…Their results were similar to males (48.2 vs. 48.1 kg) and females (30.2 vs. 31.5 kg) of our study for the same age category. In this study, the results showed lower values respect to those reported by Rostamzadeh et al [63], which compared maximum handgrip strength between light manual workers and office employees, and found approximately 12.4% of the difference between groups (59 kg and 51.9 kg, respectively). Both female and male groups showed lower handgrip values than those previously reported by Perroni et al [4] for novice and volunteer firefighter recruits (49.8 kg and 50.1 kg, respectively).…”

Analysis of hand-forearm anthropometric components in assessing handgrip and pinch strengths of school-aged children and adolescents: a partial least squares (PLS) approach

“…Some studies have also shown that although height and weight are positively correlated with hand strengths in pubertal years, the influence of these variables is considerably smaller than that of either gender or age [17,21]. Considering anthropometric dimensions, previous studies have found a strong correlation with handgrip and pinch strengths in adults [22][23][24], which was confirmed in children and adolescents in few studies [25]. In addition, there are contradictory findings in the studies on the anthropometric variables affecting hand strengths (HGS and PSs) in different age ranges [20,26].…”

Normative reference values and predicting factors of handgrip strength for dominant and non-dominant hands among healthy Malay adults in Malaysia

“…HGS is influenced by many factors, such as age, gender, height, weight, hand dominance, occupation, physical activity level and geographical areas [ 4 , 6 ]. Previous studies have found that HGS has a nonlinear relationship with age, usually peaking during the 4 th decade of life and then declining gradually [ 6 ]. HGS also increases linearly with height and weight and is notably higher in the dominant hand [ 4 , 6 ].…”