Abstract
Data on the physical strength capabilities are essential for designing safe and usable products and are useful in a wide range of clinical settings especially during treatment of disease affecting the function of the hand. The purpose of this study was to determine peak lateral pinch strength, key pinch strength, tip-to-tip pinch strength and three-jaw pinch strength exertions in a healthy Iranian children and young adult population. The study was conducted among 511 participants (242 males and 269 females) aged 7-30 years. Measurements were carried out with both dominant and non-dominant hands in standard sitting posture using a B&L pinch gauge. Two repetitions of each strength measurement were recorded for each condition and the average value of the two trials was used in the subsequent analysis. The results showed significant differences in the pinch strength data in terms of the age, gender and hand dominance. The lateral pinch strength, key pinch strength, tip-to-tip pinch strength and three-jaw pinch strength exertions by females were 68.4%, 68.8%, 78.8% and 81.8% of those exerted by males, respectively. Strength exertions with the non-dominant hand were 6.4%, 5.2%, 6.6% and 5.1% lower than strength exertions of the dominant hand for the lateral pinch strength, key pinch strength, tip-to-tip pinch strength and three-jaw pinch strength exertions, respectively. These findings can be used to fill the gaps in strength data for Iranian population.
Highlights
The human hand is one of the most sophisticated and complex anatomical structures in the body
The results showed that the pinch strength exertions with the dominant hand were significantly higher than those exerted by the non-dominant hand for all types of measurements
For both the dominant and non-dominant hands, the mean lateral pinch, key pinch, tip-to-tip pinch and three-jaw pinch strengths excreted by the age groups from 16 to 30 years were significantly higher than those exerted by the 7–10 and 11–15 years age groups (P < 0.001)
Summary
The human hand is one of the most sophisticated and complex anatomical structures in the body. The human hand is capable of doing extremely fine and sensitive movements and must be able to perform tasks, which require considerable force. To perform such sophisticated functions, the human hand has been equipped with both mechanical and sensory capabilities.[1]. The lateral pinch strength, key pinch strength, tip-to-tip pinch strength and three-jaw pinch strength exertions by females were 68.4%, 68.8%, 78.8% and 81.8% of those exerted by males, respectively. Strength exertions with the non-dominant hand were 6.4%, 5.2%, 6.6% and 5.1% lower than strength exertions of the dominant hand for the lateral pinch strength, key pinch strength, tip-to-tip pinch strength and three-jaw pinch strength exertions, respectively. Conclusion: These findings can be used to fill the gaps in strength data for Iranian population
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