Grip Strength In Children Research Articles

Normative values of handgrip strength in children using a perineometer

Context: The device used in this study is a perineometer. This study comprises 100 children (50 boys and 50 girls) in the age group of 6–12 years. Children with any musculoskeletal and neurological disorder were excluded from the study. Aims: The aim of this study is to measure hand grip strength in children. Settings And Design: The observational study was conducted in Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil's CBSE School, Ahmednagar. Subjects And Methods: The children were asked to sit on a chair with an armrest. The cuff was inflated till 100 mmHg. The children were told to press the transducer of the perineometer up to their maximum strength and release it. This process was repeated for three times, and the maximum strength was noted for both the right and left hand. Armrest chair, perineometer were used. Statistical Analysis Used: Unpaired t-test. Results: The mean grip strength in boys is 72.6 mmHg on the right side and 67.18 mmHg on the left and 6.92 mmHg on the right and 58 mmHg on the left in girls. Conclusions: This study has provided the normative values of grip strength which can be used as a reference measure for detecting the abnormality in handgrip strength.

Upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands for respiratory function in children with cerebral palsy.

[Purpose] We investigated the effects of upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands on respiratory function in children with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen children were divided into two groups: the experimental (n=8) and control (n=7) groups. Both groups performed general exercises for 30 minutes per session, two times a week during the intervention period. The experimental group performed an additional upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands for 20–30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle and grip strength were measured before and after the exercise. [Results] There was no significant difference in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow before and after the intervention in either group. The increment of maximal expiratory pressure was significantly greater in the experimental group, compared with the control group. In addition, grip strength was significantly increased in the experimental group after the intervention than before. [Conclusion] We found that upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands has a positive effect on expiration and improves grip strength in children with cerebral palsy.

"Impact of Combining Mirror Therapy and Habit On Hand Grip Strength in Children with Hemiparesis"

Background: hemiparetic children usually tend to avoid the use of their impaired arm and are remarkably tend to perform inherently bimanual tasks of daily living with the less impaired arm only rather than with both arms. In fact, these children actually may have never learned to use their impaired arm for certain motor tasks or may only use it in the simplest manner, so the purpose of the study was to determine the impact of combining HABIT and mirror therapy on hand grip in hemiparetic children.Methods: A total of 30 hemiparetic children divided randomly into two groups (A and B) of equal number, (N of each =15). Eligibility criteria to our study were age ranged from 4-8 years, ability to score more than 50 % of grasps and associated domains of quality of upper extremity skills test (QUEST) and grade 2 in manual ability classification system (MACS), assessment done by baseline hand held dynamometer for hand palmar & pinch grasp strength (in pounds) at start (0 week), reassessed at 4 & 8 weeks. The treatment protocol for two groups include: 2 months total time, 3 sessions\ week, 1.5 hour\session. Children in study group (A) received selected occupational therapy program with modified mirror apparatus while children in control group (B) Children received the same occupational therapy program as in study group but without modified mirror apparatus.Results: there is significant improvement in both groups when comparing the pre and post I & II treatment mean values. However comparing the post treatment results of both groups were statistically non-significant.Conclusion: This study confirmed that combining mirror therapy and HABIT is effective in improving hand function.

The Influence of Hand Preference on Grip Strength in Children and Adolescents; A Cross-Sectional Study of 2284 Children and Adolescents.

IntroductionIn adults the preferred hand is often considered to be around 10% stronger than the non-preferred hand. Whether the same is true for children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of this study is therefore to determine whether there is a difference in grip strength between the preferred and non-preferred hand in developing children, to establish whether this difference is similar for children of a different gender or hand preference, and whether there is a difference in grip strength of the preferred hand of left-preferent (LP) and right-preferent (RP) children.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsParticipants were recruited from schools in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. The study included healthy children and adolescents in the age range of 4–17 years.Outcome MeasuresEach child was allowed a total of four attempts using the JAMAR hand dynamometer, two attempts with each hand. All individual attempts were scored. Hand preference was determined by asking which hand was used to write, or in the case of 4- and 5-year-olds, which hand was used to draw a shape.ResultsThe study population comprised 2284 children and adolescents. RP boys and girls scored significantly higher with their preferred hand, the difference amounting to 9.5 and 10.1% respectively. LP girls scored significantly higher with their preferred hand, but this difference was only 3.0%. For LP boys no significant difference was found in favor of either hand. LP children score higher with the non-preferred hand and tie scores on both hands more often than RP children.ConclusionThe 10% rule of hand preference is applicable to RP children ranging in age between 4 and 17 years, but not to LP children. In contrast to LP boys, LP girls are generally significantly stronger with their preferred hand.

Morphological and Functional Aspects of Hand in Relation to Age, Gender and Sports Playing Condition

Aim: This cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the hand anthropometric measurements and grip strength of children in three age groups. Methods: 546 children participated in the study and grouped as little (9-11years), youth (12-14years), junior (15-18years). A digital compass with a resolution of 0.01 mm was used for hand anthropometric measurements and a digital hand dynamometer was used for grip strength measurement. Hand dimensions and hand grip strength of both hands were measured. Eight parameters were evaluated for each hand. Results: Hand width values measured from little females and little males and youth males were not statistically significant in sporting and non-sporting groups. There was a statistically significant difference for both hand length of little males and junior males between sporting and non-sporting groups. When shape index values of right and left hands were compared for both groups there was a statistically significant difference for little males and females whereas there was a statistically significant difference in youth females and junior females values compared for sports playing condition. When palmar length/width ratio values were evaluated there was a statistically significant difference between sporting and non-sporting groups in little males for both hands and in junior males for right hand. When grip strength values were evaluated there was a statistically significant difference between sporting and non-sporting groups in little males for both hands and in junior males for right hand. Conclusion: These findings stress the morphological and functional differences of hand according to age, gender and sports playing condition.

Grip strength is strongly associated with height, weight and gender in childhood: a cross sectional study of 2241 children and adolescents providing reference values

What are reference values for grip strength in children and adolescents based on a large and heterogeneous study population? What is the association of grip strength with age, gender, weight, and height in this population? Cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from schools in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. The study included healthy children and adolescents ranging in age from 4 to 15 years. All children had their height (cm) and weight (kg) measured and were allowed a total of four attempts using the Jamar hand dynamometer: twice with each hand. Grip strength scores (kg) were recorded for the dominant and non-dominant hands. The study population comprised 2241 children and adolescents. Reference values for both genders are provided according to age and dominance. Grip strength shows a linear and parallel progression for both genders until the age of 11 or 12, after which grip strength development shows an acceleration that is more prominent in boys. There is a significant difference in grip strength with each ascending year of age in favour of the older group, as well as a trend for boys to be stronger than girls in all age groups between 4 and 15 years. Weight and especially height have a strong association with grip strength in children.

Grip strength at 4 years in relation to birth weight.

Consistent positive relationships have been found between birth weight and grip strength in adults but evidence in children is limited. In a prospective general population birth cohort (Southampton Women's Survey), grip strength and anthropometry (height and weight) were measured in 968 children at the age of 4 years. Mean (standard deviation (s.d.)) birth weight was 3.48 (0.52) kg. Birth weight, adjusted for sex and gestational age, was positively associated with grip strength (β = 0.22 kg/s.d. increase in adjusted birth weight; 95% CI 0.11, 0.34). The relationship was attenuated after adjustment for current height and weight such that it became non-significant (β = 0.03 kg/s.d. increase in adjusted birth weight; 95% CI-0.08, 0.14), suggesting that body size may be on the causal pathway. Early influences on muscle development appear to impact on grip strength in children, as well as adults.

Autism severity and muscle strength: A correlation analysis

The current study examined the relationship between muscle strength, as measured by hand grip strength, and autism severity, as measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Thirty-seven (37) children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were evaluated using the CARS and then tested for hand muscle strength using a hand grip dynamometer. Statistical analysis was then conducted to examine the relationship between autism severity and hand muscle strength. The model generated in the present study showed that the CARS score is a significant predictor of Max Hand Muscle Score after adjustment for age, race, gender, year of birth, and a history of prior chelation therapy. Evidence suggests that hand grip strength in children with ASD is related to the severity of the disorder. Further research is needed to determine the extent and consistency of the muscle weakness and possible treatments.

029 Does a heavy baby become a strong child? Grip strength at 4 years in relation to birthweight

ObjectiveConsistent positive relationships have been found between birthweight and grip strength in young, middle-aged and older adults, suggesting that early influences on the growth and development of muscle are important...

Visual Feedback and Weight Reduction of a Grip Strength Dynamometer Do Not Increase Reliability in Healthy Children

Study Design Test–retest reliability study on grip strength in children. Introduction Measuring grip strength in children is difficult because of the weight and size of the instrument, brief attention span, and possible lack of task understanding. Therefore, adaptations to the measurement protocols to improve reliability would be very important for research and clinical evaluation. Purpose In this study, we compared the reliability of a grip strength dynamometer (Lode dynamometer, Lode BV, Groningen, The Netherlands) using three different protocols. Methods Test–retest reliability of the American Society of Hand Therapists protocol in 104 healthy children (4–12 years) was compared with the reliability in 63 healthy children of a visual feedback protocol and a suspension protocol reducing weight of the instrument. Results For the total group, intraclass correlation coefficients for the dominant and nondominant hands were 0.95–0.97 for all protocols, indicating that all three protocols were reliable. Conclusion No statistically significant difference was found among the reliability of the different protocols, but the suspension protocol produced small but significantly higher force levels. Level of Evidence Not applicable.

Growth Diagrams for Grip Strength in Children

Grip strength dynamometers often are used to assess hand function in children. The use of normative grip strength data at followup is difficult because of the influence of growth and neuromuscular maturation. As an alternative, infant welfare centers throughout the world use growth diagrams to observe normative growth. The aim of this study was to develop similar growth diagrams for grip strength in children. We measured the grip strength, hand dominance, gender, height, and weight of 225 children, 4 to 12 years old. We developed separate statistical models for both hands of boys and girls for drawing growth curves. Grip strength increased with age for both hands. For the whole group, the dominant hand produced higher grip strength than the nondominant hand and boys were stronger than girls. The grip strength of boys and girls differed between 2 and 19 N for the different age groups. Because grip strength measurements are accompanied by a rather large variance, the growth diagrams (presenting a continuum in grip strength) make it possible to better observe grip strength development with time corresponding to a more exact age. Depending on the accuracy needed, the use of one combined diagram could be considered. Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Reliability of Hand Strength Measurements Using the Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer in Children

Grip strength and pinch strength measurements are often used to assess hand function. However, both measure a number of muscle groups in combination, and grip strength in particular is dominated by extrinsic hand muscles. The Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer (RIHM) was recently introduced to measure the force that individual fingers and thumb can exert in different directions. The aim of this study was to establish the reliability of these measurements with use of the RIHM in children. Sixty-three healthy children between 4 and 12 years of age participated in this study. The RIHM was used to measure thumb palmar abduction, thumb opposition, thumb flexion at the metacarpal-phalangeal (MP) joint, index finger abduction, and little finger abduction. A retest was performed with an average test-retest interval of 26 days. For the thumb, palmar abduction strength had intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of .98 for both hands. For both thumb opposition and flexion at the MP joint, ICCs were .97 for the dominant hands and .98 for the nondominant hands. Index finger abduction had ICCs of .94 and .95 and little finger abduction had ICCs of .90 and .92 for the dominant and nondominant hands, respectively. The smallest detectable differences for dominant and nondominant hands respectively were thumb palmar abduction, 15% and 15%; thumb opposition, 12% and 9%; thumb flexion (at the MP joint), 12% and 9%; abduction of the index finger, 17% and 17%; and little finger abduction, 26% and 26%. We found that the RIHM was reliable for use in children. Intraclass correlation coefficients and smallest detectable differences were comparable with those obtained with use of the RIHM in adults and with values found for pinch and grip strength in children. Because the RIHM measures more specific aspects of hand function than grip and pinch, adding the RIHM to measurement protocols may contribute to a more complete overview of a child's hand function.

Grip strength in children: Test–retest reliability using Grippit

To examine the reliability of peak and sustained grip strength in children using the Grippit. We compared the reliability of one trial, the best and mean of three trials and the reliability within 6-, 10- and 14-year-old groups. Test-retest study. Grip strength with the Grippit instrument was evaluated at two test occasions in 58 children. Intraclass correlation coefficient 2.1 (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) also expressed as a percentage value (SEM%), coefficient of repeatability and coefficient of variation were calculated. The test-retest reliability was good for both peak and sustained grip strength. The mean and best of three trials were equally reliable. Peak grip strength best of three trials, for example, was more reliable for the 6-year-olds (ICC 0.96, SEM% 6.3) and 14-year-olds (ICC 0.96, SEM% 5.2) compared to the 10-year-olds (ICC 0.78, SEM% 12.5). For peak grip strength in the whole sample, there was a systematic bias with better performance at the second measurement. Grip strength assessment in children with Grippit results in good relative and absolute reliability for peak and sustained grip strength. We recommend that three test trials are used. The mean of and the best of three trials are comparable.

Hand Span Influences Optimal Grip Span in Boys and Girls Aged 6 to 12 Years

The first aim was to determine whether there is an optimal grip span for determining the maximum hand grip strength in boys and girls aged 6 to 12 years and whether the optimal grip span was related to hand span. If so, the second aim was to derive a mathematical equation relating hand span and optimal grip span. A total of 123 boys (9 y +/- 2) and 70 girls (8 y +/- 2) were evaluated. Each hand was randomly tested on 10 occasions using 5 different grip spans, allowing a 1-minute rest between attempts. The hand span was measured from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger with the hand opened widely. An optimal grip span to determine maximum hand grip strength was identified for both genders. Hand span and optimal grip span showed a significant linear association in the studied children. The equation relating grip span as a function of hand span in boys is formulated as y = x/4 + 0.44 and in girls as y = 0.3x - 0.52, where x is the hand span (maximal width between first and fifth fingers) and y is the optimal grip span. The results suggest that there is an optimal grip span to which the dynamometer should be adjusted when measuring hand grip strength in children. The optimal grip span was influenced by hand span in both genders.

Size at birth and its relation to muscle strength in young adult women

To assess the relationship between development in utero, assessed by birth weight, and muscle strength in young adult women as assessed by grip strength. A total of 1563 participants aged 20-40 years in the Southampton Women's Survey had their grip strength measured during pregnancy. At recruitment to the survey the women had been asked to recall their birth weight or obtain it from their parents. For 536 women born in Southampton, birth weight was obtained from hospital records. Grip strength was related to birth weight using multiple linear regression analysis, adjusting for age, height, weight and reported physical activity. Grip strength increased with age, height, weight, physical activity and birth weight. In the mutually-adjusted model, grip strength increased by 1.10 kg per kilogram of birth weight (95% CI: 0.58-1.61 kg). In women with hospital birth weight data the relationship strengthened to 1.44 kg per kilogram of birth weight (95% CI: 0.50-2.38 kg). Grip strength in women in their twenties and thirties is at or approaching its peak. The association between grip strength and birth weight was remarkably similar to findings from other studies of women at younger and older ages. This indicates that in utero development has consequences for muscle strength throughout the life course, even allowing for the increase to peak muscle strength and then its decline as a woman ages.

Norms for grip strength in children aged 4–16 years

The aim of this study was to provide norms for grip strength in children. A total of 530 Swedish 4–16‐y‐olds was tested with the instrument Grippit®. The instrument estimates peak grip strength over a 10 s period, and sustained grip strength averaged across the 10 s. The increase in grip strength with age was approximately parallel for boys and girls until 10 y of age, after which boys were significantly stronger than girls. Strong correlations existed between grip strength and the anthropometric measures weight, height and, in particular, hand length. Right‐handed children were significantly stronger in their dominant hand, while left‐handers did not show any strength difference between the hands. It is therefore suggested that when evaluating grip strength in left‐handed children both hands should be assumed to be about equally strong, while right‐handed children are expected to be up to 10% stronger with their right hand. Sustained grip strength was consistently about 80–85% of peak grip strength, with somewhat lower values in younger children. The present normative data for peak grip strength were slightly lower than 1980s' data from the USA and Australia, probably because of divergences in age grouping and in instruments used. Conclusion: Norms for grip strength including estimates of variation were provided for children aged 4–16 y. These data will enable therapists and physicians to compare a patient's score with the scores of normally developed children according to age, gender, handedness and body measures.

Grip Strength in Children

Grip Strength in Children

Grip Strength in Children

Grip Strength in Children

Grip Strength in Children

The grip strength in a group of 487 healthy children aged between 5 years and 15 years was measured. There was a clear correlation between age and grip strength. Up to the age of 12 years, there was a striking parallellism between boys and girls. From the age of 13 years, boys developed a 25% stronger grip force than girls. The difference between the dominant and nondominant hand grip was not significant, but was constantly stronger in the right hand for right-hand dominant children. There was a high variation in grip forces (from 6.9 kg to 38.4 kg).

Botulinum toxin A in cerebral palsy: Functional outcomes

Botulinum toxin A in cerebral palsy: Functional outcomes