Hand-Grip Strength as a Predictor of Muscular Strength and Endurance

Abstract

PURPOSE: Several fitness tests are commonly administered to determine either muscular strength or endurance. Even though an ample number of tests exist to measure upper body muscular endurance and lower body maximal muscular strength, a single test that assesses both could be beneficial in some circumstances. The purpose of this study was to determine if a hand-grip dynamometer test is a valid predictor of both muscular strength and endurance. METHODS: Participants included 54 college-aged students (age 21.88 ± 2.1 yrs, height 168.7 ± 9.4 cm, weight 68.0 ± 14.0 kg). Subjects performed the following tests of muscular strength and endurance: a one minute pushup test (PU), one minute bent knee sit-ups (SU), ninety second dumbbell swing (DBS), 1RM leg extension (1RM LE), 1RM leg press (1RM LP), and hand grip dynamometer test (HGD). A Keiser pneumatic resistance machine was used to measure maximal strength for the 1RM tests. Subjects performed 3 trials of the HGD test, after which the maximum value was recorded. Pearson bivariate correlation analyses were used to determine relationships between measures. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between HGD and SU (r = .472, p≤.001), HGD and PU (r = .241, p = .047), HGD and 1RM LE (r = .718, p≤.001), HGD and 1RM LP (r = .609, p≤.001). CONCLUSIONS: The hand grip dynamometer test was a predictor of both absolute muscular strength and endurance. The correlations calculated implicate its usefulness as a method to predict both muscular strength and endurance in a simple fashion. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results are applicable to anyone interested in testing muscular strength and endurance in group settings; or with special populations. The predictive value of the HGD could serve as a useful tool to predict muscular strength and endurance that would normally require more complex assessment. HGD testing requires only a single piece of equipment and minimal effort from subjects who may be unwilling or unable to perform the other more strenuous tests.