ANALYSIS OF GRIP STRENGTH Brandon Kelley, Dr. Lu Yuan Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University BACKGROUND PROCEDURE DISCUSSION Evaluation of grip strength has been used as a diagnostic tool to detect the onset of repetitive strain injuries of hand and lower arm in an occupational setting. Comparison of individual grip strength to the normative data helps determine the individual’s fitness for a particular task, identify the onset of injuries, or examine the progress of the rehabilitation from a hand or arm injury. A total of 20 subjects, predominantly the college students in the Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology at Southeastern Louisiana University, participated in the study. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Southeastern Louisiana University. The sample size is very small so the comparison between the subjects’ grip strength data and the normative data provided by the manufacturer has limited statistical power. PURPOSE The objective of this project was to measure grip strength of a sample of college students using a JAMAR® Hand Dynamometer and compare the results to the normative data provided by the manufacturer of the hand dynamometer to investigate the factors that may affect grip strength. JAMAR® HAND DYNAMOMETER http://www.wisdomking.com/product/jamar-hand-dynamometer The measurement process was first described to the subjects. They then signed the informed consent form and their ages were recorded next to the subject number. The subjects sat in a chair with their shoulder adducted and neutrally rotated, elbow flexed at 90°, forearm in neutral position, and wrist between 0° and 30° dorsiflexion and between 0° and 15° ulnar deviation. The subjects squeezed the hand dynamometer as hard as they could. This exercise was performed on the left and right hands and the results were recorded next to the subject number and age. RESULTS Age 20-24 n 10 25-29 2 30-34 2 35-39 2 All 16 Age 20-24 n 1 35-39 1 50-54 2 All 4 There is a high degree of variation among individual’s measurement which is why obtaining individual baseline measurement may be an optimal choice in a proactive effort to eliminate or mitigate hand or arm injuries. It appears that among the 20-24 age group of male subjects, a few subjects are left-handed as their left hands’ grip strength data are greater than the right hands’. CONCLUSIONS Hand R L R L R L R L R L MALE Mean in lbs (SD) 105.9 (21.1) 109.6 (25.1) 122.0 (17.0) 116.5 (16.3) 106.0 (43.8) 105.0 (52.3) 144.0 (5.7) 134.0 (19.8) 112.7 (25.0) 112.9 (26.9) Hand R L R L R L R L FEMALE Mean in lbs (SD) 100 85 59 59 62.5 (3.5) 57.5 (3.5) 71.0 (19.5) 64.8 (13.7) Normative Mean in lbs (SD) 121.0 (20.6) 104.5 (21.8) 120.8 (23.0) 110.5 (16.2) 121.8 (22.4) 110.4 (21.7) 119.7 (24.0) 112.9 (21.7) 104.3 (28.3) 93.1 (27.6) Normative Mean in lbs (SD) 70.4 (14.5) 61.0 (13.1) 74.1 (10.8) 66.3 (11.7) 65.8 (11.6) 57.3 (10.7) 62.8 (17.0) 53.9 (15.7) The grip strength data collected in this study were within the tolerances of normative data on grip strength that were provided by the manufacturer, even though the sample size of the study was relatively small. Incorporating the monitoring and evaluation of grip strength data into a company’s safety and ergonomics plan is a cost-effective way of preventing the work-related hand and arm repetitive strain injuries as well as minimizing the loss of work-time and expense of medical treatment that are caused by those injuries. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Beck J, Ferrucci L, Sun K, Walston J, Fried LP, Varadhan R, Guralnik JM, Semba RD. (2007). Low serum selenium concentrations are associated with poor grip strength among older women living in the community. BioFactors, 29(1), 37-44. 2. BLS USDL-12-2204. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/osh2_11082012.pdf (last accessed on April 15, 2013) 3. Gale CR, Martyn CN, Cooper C, Sayer AA. (2007). Grip strength, body composition, and mortality. International Journal of Epidemiology, 36(1), 228-235. 4. Lafayette Jamar Hand Dynamometer Users Manual. 5. Mathiowetz V, Kashman N, Volland G, Weber K, Dowe M, Rogers S. (1985). Grip and pinch strength: normative data for adults. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 66(2), 69-74. 6. Miranda J, Lundberg I, McConnell R, Delgado E, Cuadra R, Torres E, Wesseling C, Keifer M. (2002). Onset of grip- and pinch-strength impairment after acute poisonings with organophosphate insecticides. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 8(1), 19-26.
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