Comparison of Baseline Instruments to the Jamar Dynamometer and the B&L Engineering Pinch Gauge

Abstract

This study compared different types of grip and pinch strength measurement devices to determine their inter-instrument reliability and concurrent validity. The study included 40 females and 40 males who were tested on 2 types of grip and pinch strength measurement devices using a repeated measure design. Results indicated that the Jamar and Baseline hydraulic dynamometers have acceptable inter-instrument reliability and concurrent validity (i.e., they measure grip strength equivalently) and can be used interchangeably. Thus, therapists using the Baseline dynamometer are justified in using published normative data that were collected with the jamar dynamometer. In contrast, Baseline regular and hydraulic pinch gauges did not measure tip, hey, and palmer pinch strength equivalently with the B&L Engineering pinch gauge. As a result, therapists using Baseline pinch gauges are not justified in using published normative data that were collected with the B&L Engineering pinch gauge. Therapists should not interchange different types of grip and pinch strength measurement devices unless there is evidence that they measure equivalently.