Experiences of occupational therapy clinicians on the assessment and evaluation of adult handgrip strength

Abstract

Introduction: Handgrip strength (HGS) is commonly measured to assess hand function, however, little is known about how and why occupational therapists assess and interpret HGS. This study aimed to explore the experiences of occupational therapists who work with HGS. Additionally, the study explored what biological and functional factors occupational therapists believe influence adult HGS. Method: A qualitative study design utilising purposive sampling identified occupational therapy clinicians within Queensland, Australia who assess HGS. Data were collected from 19 participants using a semi-structured interview process. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Variations of the American Society of Hand Therapists HGS testing procedure were used by the participants based on experience. When evaluating HGS, comparison to normative data was not always completed or seen to be valuable. Biological and functional factors such as height, hand length, occupation and lifestyle factors were considered to influence HGS. Conclusion: The results of this study provide insight into the various ways occupational therapists assess and evaluate HGS according to experience and practice context. These variations in assessment and evaluation of HGS along with the influence of an individual’s biological and functional factors need to be considered when interpreting HGS results.