EFFECT OF HAND ANTHROPOMETRY INDICES ON THE MEASUREMENT OF HAND GRIP STRENGTH USING A HANDHELD DYNAMOMETER IN YOUNG ASIAN MALES

Abstract

Hand grip strength is a measure of one’s muscle strength of the hand and forearm. It also indicates one’s general physical fitness. Hand grip strength is measured using a handheld dynamometer and this procedure can be affected by one’s hand anthropometry. Hand size and shape can be affected by one’s race and ethnicity and thus identifying the specific hand anthropometric measurement that would be related to hand grip strength for a particular ethnicity is important. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between different hand anthropometric measurements with hand grip strength using a handheld dynamometer in South Asian healthy young male adults. Full hand length, middle finger length, palm width and wrist thickness in 52 young male participants aged 18-25 years old were measured. Hand grip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to study the relationship of each anthropometric variable with hand grip strength. Our data showed, palm width significantly correlates with hand grip strength (r=0.461; p=0.00059). Middle finger length has a weak positive correlation (r=0.260; p=0.063), while full hand length and wrist thickness has no correlation with hand grip strength (r=0.048; p=0.734) and (r=0.094; p=0.509) respectively. Our results show that of the four anthropometry measurements of the hand used in this study, palm width has a strong association with hand grip strength, and it is a statistically significant determinant of hand grip strength in South Asian healthy male young adults. It can also be concluded that middle finger length and wrist thickness do not play a role in affecting hand grip strength.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0028/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>