The association between hand dimensions and handgrip strength: a preliminary study

Abstract

Grip strength of the hand is defined as the voluntary flexion of all fingers in maximum strength under normal bio-kinetic circumstances. Handgrip strength is an important parameter in terms of the efficient use of the hand in addition to being a reliable marker of the physical strength of the individual. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the anthropometric measurements of the hand and handgrip strength. A total of 150 students from Baskent University aged 18 to 25 years participated in this study. The participants’ height, weight, length of upper extremity, arm, forearm and hand, arm circumference, wrist circumference, elbow and wrist width and hand width were measured in this study. In addition, the distance from the distal wrist line to the distal end of each finger and the distances from each fingertip to the peak point of the thumb were measured with the fingers in abduction. The measurements for the fingers were obtained from scanned images of the hands. Handgrip strength, however, was measured using a hand dynamometer. The handgrip strength of the males was found to be greater compared to the females. A statistically significant association between handgrip strength and all upper extremity parameters was found. The most significant of all the parameters was the distance between the wrist and thumb of the right and left hand (WT). This study is a preliminary one and may be seen in terms of treatment approaches to the hand, clinical follow-up, and hand rehabilitation.

Keywords

• Anatomy,anthropometry,forensic science

References

1. Anakwe RE, Huntley JS, Mceachan JE. (2007) Grip strength and forearm circumference in a healthy population. J Hand Surg Eur 32:203-209.