Purpose
A quantitative and objective measure of isometric muscular strength of the hand and forearm.
Cost
Not FreeDiagnosis/Conditions
- Stroke Recovery
A quantitative and objective measure of isometric muscular strength of the hand and forearm.
1
5 minutes
5 minutes or less
Initially reviewed by Michele Lamb, OTR in 11/2013
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Chronic Stroke:
(Bertrand, et al, 2007; n = 17; mean age 53.7(13.0); paresis of the arm as a result of a unilateral stroke that occurred > one year earlier; three trials with time intervals between two sessions as well as the time of day not fixed; participants were not involved in a rehabilitation program)
Session/Trial |
Paretic SEM |
Non-paretic SEM |
1,1 |
28.78 (20%) |
22.27 (8%) |
1,3 |
26.15 (18%) |
17.10 (6%) |
2,1 |
20.35 (14%) |
16.07 (6%) |
2,3 |
18.49 (13%) |
12.23 (4%) |
(Boissy et al, 1999; n=15; mean age = 47 (14) years; single CVA with upper limb paresis > one year ; three measurement sessions held one week apart at approximately the same time of day; Lafayette modified prehensile dynamometer)
Reported acceptable SEMs (mean SEM = 14% of mean MVGF)
Stroke:
(Lang et al, 2008; n = 52; mean age 64 (14); independent prior to hemiparesis, Jamar grip dynamometer, Acute Stroke)
Stroke:
(Bertland et al, 2007, Chronic Stroke)
Stroke:
(Boissey et al, 1999, Chronic Stroke)
Stroke:
(Boissy et al, 1999, stroke >1 yr, Chronic Stroke)
Stroke:
(Roberts et al, 2011)
Community dwelling older adults:
(Desrosiers et al, 1994; n = 360; mean age = 73.9 (8.0) years; community dwelling older adults, Quebec, Canada , comparison Jamar dynamometer (kg) and Martin Vigorimeter (kPa))
Mean (Standard Deviation) |
|
|
|
|
Women |
Jamar |
Jamar |
Martin |
Martin |
Age |
Right Hand (kg) |
Left Hand (kg) |
Right Hand (kPa) |
Left Hand (kPa) |
60-69 |
25.3 (4.8) |
23.6 (4.7) |
53.7 (10.2) |
52.4 (9.9) |
70-79 |
23.7 (5.1) |
22.0 (4.7) |
52.3 (12.0) |
50.1 (11.2) |
80+ |
20.0 (4.3) |
18.5 (4.4) |
44.1 (9.4) |
42.7 (10.9) |
Men |
|
|
|
|
60-69 |
45.6 (8.6) |
43.6 (8.7) |
89.4 (16.7) |
88.1 (17.2) |
70-79 |
42.4 (9.1) |
40.5 (8.5) |
83.0 (18.2) |
79.6 (16.2) |
80+ |
34.5 (7.2) |
32.1 (7.0) |
64.6 (14.5) |
64.3 (14.7) |
Stegink Jansen et al, 2008; n = 224; mean age = 75.4 (6.8); good health with normal hand functions; Jamar dynamometer)
Men Norm in Pounds |
|
|
|
Age |
Hand |
Mean |
SD |
65-69 |
R |
91.5 |
15.5 |
|
L |
88.2 |
14.4 |
70-74 |
R |
84.2 |
17.2 |
|
L |
81.4 |
18.4 |
80-84 |
R |
70.6 |
14.6 |
|
L |
63.1 |
16.2 |
85+ |
R |
54.2 |
14.2 |
|
L |
50.3 |
13.8 |
Women Norms in Pounds |
|
|
|
Age |
Hand |
Mean |
SD |
65-69 |
R |
54.9 |
10.1 |
|
L |
51.5 |
9.5 |
70-74 |
R |
52.5 |
9.5 |
|
L |
48.3 |
10.5 |
75-79 |
R |
48.2 |
10.3 |
|
L |
43.6 |
10.7 |
80-84 |
R |
44.5 |
11.1 |
|
L |
41.0 |
9.3 |
85+ |
R |
40.4 |
11.6 |
|
L |
37.7 |
8.6 |
Community Dwelling Older Adults:
(Bohannon et al, 2005; n = 21; mean age 75(5.9); 2 trials over a 12-week period; healthy community dwelling)
(Abizanda, et al., 2012, n=281; mean age = 74.3 (4.9) years, healthy older adults)
Healthy Adults and Patients with Primary Osteoarthritis of the hand (POAH):
(Ziv et al, 2008; n = 32 POAH; mean age 70.4 (10), n = 25 healthy adults; mean age 74.6 (8.4); measured twice within one week; Jamar dynamometer)
Healthy Basketball players:
(Vassilis, G., 2012; n = 90; three groups: prepubertal 9.8(0.7), adolescents 14.4 (0.6), and adults 26.1 (5.6); three maximal isometric contractions on each hand, two occasions, one day apart)
Healthy Adults:
(Massy-Westropp et al, 2011; 1366 mean and 1312 women, community based Australian population, healthy adults, Jamar hand dynamometer)
Men Hand Grip Strength in kilograms: Mean (SD) |
|
|
Age |
Right |
Left |
20-29 |
47 (9.5) |
45 (8.8) |
30-39 |
47 (9.7) |
47 (9.8) |
40-49 |
47 (9.5) |
45 (9.3) |
50-59 |
45 (8.4) |
43 (8.3) |
60-69 |
40 (8.3) |
38 (8.0) |
70+ |
33 (7.8) |
32 (7.5) |
Women Hand Grip Strength in kilograms: Mean (SD) |
|
|
Age |
Right |
Left |
20-29 |
30 (7) |
28 (6.1) |
30-39 |
31 (6.4) |
29 (6) |
40-49 |
29 (5.7) |
28 (5.7) |
50-59 |
28 (6.3) |
26 (5.7) |
60-69 |
24 (5.3) |
23 (5) |
70+ |
20 (5.8) |
19 (5.5) |
(Mathiowetz et al, 1985; 628 volunteers between the ages of 20 - 94, free from disease or injury that can affect UE strength; Jamar dynamometer in pounds)
Healthy Adults:
(Mathiowetz et al, 1984; n = 27; mean age 25; female OT students; two separate observations)
(Reddon et al., 1985, n = 12, 6 men (21 to 36 yr.), 6 women (20 to 31 yr.), tested weekly for 10 weeks)
Healthy Adults:
(Lindstrom-Hazel et al., 2009, n = 73 convenience sample, three trials bilaterally, healthy students, facility, and staff members from Midwest University)
(Mathewetz, V., 2002; n = 60; 30 females 30-49 years old mean 38.4 and 30 males 20-50 mean age 37.8; free from any neuromuscular or orthopedic dysfunction; testing between Jamar and Rolyan dynamometers)
(Mathiowetz, et al, 1984,)
(Peolsson, 2001; n = 32; mean age = 29; convenient sample healthy adults; three test leaders)
Healthy Adults:
(Bellace et al, 2000; n = 62; ages of 18-50, randomized order of testing between Jamar and Dexter dynamometer; healthy adults)
(Mathewetz, V., 2002, healthy adults)
Healthy Adults :
(Nitschke et al, 1999; n = 42; mean age 32.3 (7.3) healthy female subjects & 42.6 (11.8) nonspecific regional pain in upper arm female subjects; Jamar dynamometer)
(Reddon et al., 1985)
Abizanda, P., Navarro, J. L., et al. (2012). "Validity and usefulness of hand-held dynamometry for measuring muscle strength in community-dwelling older persons." Arch Gerontol Geriatr 54(1): 21-27.
Bellace, J. V., Healy, D., et al. (2000). "Validity of the Dexter Evaluation System's Jamar dynamometer attachment for assessment of hand grip strength in a normal population." J Hand Ther 13(1): 46-51.
Bertrand, A. M., Mercier, C., et al. (2007). "Reliability of maximal static strength measurements of the arms in subjects with hemiparesis." Clin Rehabil 21(3): 248-257.
Bohannon, R. W. and Schaubert, K. L. (2005). "Test–retest reliability of grip-strength measures obtained over a 12-week interval from community-dwelling elders." Journal of hand therapy 18(4): 426-428.
Boissy, P., Bourbonnais, D., et al. (1999). "Maximal grip force in chronic stroke subjects and its relationship to global upper extremity function." Clin Rehabil 13(4): 354-362.
Desrosiers, J., Bravo, G., et al. (1995). "Normative data for grip strength of elderly men and women." Am J Occup Ther 49(7): 637-644.
Gerodimos, V. (2012). "Reliability of handgrip strength test in basketball players." J Hum Kinet 31(1): 25-36.
Innes, E. (1999). "Handgrip strength testing: a review of the literature." Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 46(3): 120-140.
Jansen, C., Niebuhr, B. R., et al. (2008). "Hand force of men and women over 65 years of age as measured by maximum pinch and grip force." Journal of aging and physical activity 16(1): 24.
Lang, C. E., Edwards, D. F., et al. (2008). "Estimating minimal clinically important differences of upper-extremity measures early after stroke." Arch Phys Med Rehabil 89(9): 1693-1700.
Lindstrom-Hazel, D., Kratt, A., et al. (2009). "Interrater reliability of students using hand and pinch dynamometers." The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 63(2): 193-197.
Mathiowetz, V. (2002). "Comparison of Rolyan and Jamar dynamometers for measuring grip strength." Occup Ther Int 9(3): 201-209.
Mathiowetz, V., Kashman, N., et al. (1985). "Grip and pinch strength: normative data for adults." Arch Phys Med Rehabil 66(2): 69-74.
Mathiowetz, V., Weber, K., et al. (1984). "Reliability and validity of grip and pinch strength evaluations." J Hand Surg Am 9(2): 222-226.
Nitschke, J. E., McMeeken, J. M., et al. (1999). "When is a change a genuine change?: A clinically meaningful interpretation of grip strength measurements in healthy and disabled women." Journal of Hand Therapy 12(1): 25-30.
Peolsson, A., Hedlund, R., et al. (2001). "Intra- and inter-tester reliability and reference values for hand strength." J Rehabil Med 33(1): 36-41.
Reddon, J. R., Stefanyk, W. O., et al. (1985). "Hand dynamometer: effects of trials and sessions." Percept Mot Skills 61(3 Pt 2): 1195-1198.
Richards, L. G., Olson, B., et al. (1996). "How forearm position affects grip strength." The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 50(2): 133-138.
Roberts, H. C., Denison, H. J., et al. (2011). "A review of the measurement of grip strength in clinical and epidemiological studies: towards a standardised approach." Age Ageing 40(4): 423-429.
Ziv, E., Patish, H., et al. (2008). "Grip and pinch strength in healthy subjects and patients with primary osteoarthritis of the hand: a reproducibility study." Open Orthop J 2: 86-90.
We have reviewed more than 500 instruments for use with a number of diagnoses including stroke, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury among several others.