Effects of Different Testing Postures on Hand Grip Strength among Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Grip strength play an important part in measuring strength of upper limb. Certain factors influence the hand grip strength like body stance of the members during the test, position of body and different parts like elbow, lower arm, shoulder and wrist, age and gender, nutritional status, hand outline and appendage length. Objectives: Determine effects of different testing postures (standing, sitting, supine, side lying and prone) on hand grip strength. Methods: A Cross-Sectional study was carried out at Shalamar School of Allied Health Sciences Lahore. This study recruited 45 participants of both gender, age between 18 to 24 years. Hand grip strength of dominant hand is measured in different testing postures (standing, sitting, supine, side lying and prone) by using hand held dynamometer. Correlation of all variables calculated through SPSS. Result:This study showed that hand grip strength was higher in standing position (36.60±10.79) and lower in prone position (27.52±8.01).Hand grip strength in sitting and supine position in males and females showed significant difference with standing position and non significant difference with prone position while hand grip strength in prone showed non significant difference with standing, sitting and supine position and significant difference with side lying position. Conclusion: This study concludes that hand grip strength was higher in standing, sitting, and supine position respectively and lower in side lying and prone position.