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Handgrip Strength
- purpose: strength is defined as the ability to carry out work against a resistance. Handgrip strength is important for any sport in which the hands are used for catching, throwing or lifting. Also, as a general rule people with strong hands tend to be strong elsewhere.
- equipment required: handgrip dynamometer
- description / procedure: The subject to be tested holds the dynamometer
in one hand in line with the forearm and hanging by the thigh.
Maximum grip strength is then determined without swinging the
arm.
- scoring: The best of two trials for each hand is recorded.
These ratings (in kilograms) give a guide to expected scores for adults. Males: excellent >64, very good 56-64, above average 52-56, average 48-52, below average 44-48, poor 40-44, very poor <40. For females: excellent >38, very good 34-38, above average 30-34, average 26-30, below average 22-26, poor 20-22, very poor <20.
- validity: The validity of this test as a measure of
general strength has been questioned, as the strength of the forearm muscles does not necessarily
represent the strength of other muscle groups.
- advantages: This is a simple and commonly used test
of general strength level.
- disadvantages: The dynamometer must be adjusted for
hand size, how successfully this is done will affect the accuracy
of the measurement.
- comments: It is also useful to record whether the athlete
is left or right handed, as this may help in the interpretation
of results. The non-dominant hand usually scores about 10% lower.
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