A study of grip strength among 20–49-year-old British adults and comparison to existing norms

Abstract

Introduction

Hand grip strength is frequently assessed to evaluate interventions or guide treatment. When using calibrated equipment in a standardised method, hand-held dynamometry is a reliable measure for hand grip strength and can be compared to normative data. However, existing British grip strength normative data were published 20 years ago.

Methods

A non-experimental quantitative study was carried out to establish if existing UK hand grip norms and consolidated multinational norms were representative of today’s 20–49-year-old British adult population. The methodology used was modelled on a previous British study using the mean Jamar dynamometer maximal grip strengths and reported within age bands.

Results

A total of 135 healthy British citizens of various ethnicities between 20 and 49 years were recruited. Grip strength is decreased in comparison to the existing British normative data for both males and females in all age bands. A significant difference exists (p < 0.05) for male right hand aged 40–44 years and right and left hands for women 25–29 years and 45–49 years, respectively. Significant differences were also noted in 5 and 8 of the 12 multinational means for men and women respectively.

Conclusions

Due to small sample size, the ability of this study to demonstrate a significant difference in mean grip strength to the earlier British norms is low. However, a small increase in sample size may have resulted in further significant differences with both studies. A larger study, taking into consideration ethnicity, is recommended to ensure valid and reliable grip strength norms are used in practice.

Keywords

Grip strength Jamar dynamometry normative data ethnicity

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