Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Inonu
University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey | [b] Department of Anatomy, Inonu University, Turgut Ozal
Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey | [c] Department of Biostatistics, Inonu University, Turgut
Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kadir Ertem, MD, Department of
Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Inonu University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center,
44069 Malatya, Turkey. Tel.: +9 0422 3410660/5110; Fax: +9 0422 3410728;
E-mail: kertem@inonu.edu.tr
Abstract: Measurement of grip strength is an important component in hand
evaluation. It assesses the patient's initial limitations and provides a quick
reassessment of patient's progress throughout the treatment. This investigation
was conducted to examine the determinants of hand dominance of average versus
maximum grip strength, body mass index (BMI) and age for hand evaluation.
Subjects were 877 apparently healthy male adult volunteers from the Inonu
University – students and personnel; average age 21.14±2.09
(19–40 years). A good correlation was found between the BMI hand strength
measures. Grip strength was measured instrumentally. The rule "dominant hand
(DH) is approximately 10% stronger than the non-dominant hand (NDH)" was found
to be valid for left handed persons only (7%) otherwise these measures should
be considered equivalent in both hands. The difference between maximum and
average of three consecutive measurement of grip strength was found significant
for both hands. As the significant difference was found between RGSmax (Maximum
Grip Strength of Right Hand) and RGSav (Average Grip Strength of Right Hand);
LGSmax (Maximum Grip Strength of Left Hand)/LGSav (Average Grip Strength of
Left Hand) measures for RDH. RGSmax and LGSmax where correlated only for LDH.
Therefore, average of three consecutive measurement of grip strength is more
consistent for standard hand evaluation.
Keywords: Hand, hand strength, muscle strength, grip, dynamometry
