Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for Correspondence: Hon K. Yuen, PhD., OTR/L, Professor & Director of Research, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. Tel.: +1 205 934 6301; Fax: +1 205 975 7787; E-mail: yuen@uab.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: To identify physical measures that predict maximal handgrip strength (MHGS) and provide evidence for identifying lack of sincerity of effort when assessing upper extremity weakness. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated anthropometric measurements associated with MHGS of healthy young adults. METHODS: A convenience sample of 150 healthy adults ages 19 to 34 years old completed the MHGS assessment, which was measured using a Jamar dynamometer according to the protocol of the American Society of Hand Therapists, for both dominant and non-dominant hands. Several anthropometric data were collected, which included height, body weight, forearm length, forearm circumference, hand length, and hand width. RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression analysis indicated gender and hand width were uniquely and significantly associated with participants’ MHGS for dominant and non-dominant hand and accounted for more than 60% of the variance, with R2 = 0.60, P < 0.001 for the dominant hand model and R2 = 0.64, P < 0.001 for the non-dominant hand model. CONCLUSIONS: Among the forearm and hand anthropometric measures, hand width is the best predictor of MHGS in both the non-dominant and dominant hands for healthy young adults.
