PURPOSE: We wanted to investigate the grip and pinch strength of hands and establish the clinical normative data for Korean people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 234 Korean males and 281 Korean females (age: 10 to 84) were tested. Grip strength and pinch strength were tested twice with 5 minute interval between tests. RESULTS: Generally, hand strength peaked at 30 to 39 of age for both males and females. The average grip strength was 48.8 kg for males and 28.23 kg for females and they were 11% stronger than 12 years before in both groups. Tip pinch strength peaked in the forties, but key pinch and tripod pinch peaked in the thirties. All the peak hand strength was obtained in the 30 to 39 age group of females. Among the pinch strengths, key pinch was the strongest. For the right-handed people, the grip and pinch strengths of the right hand were stronger than those of the left hand. However, for the left-handed people, the left hand was stronger than the right hand only for the tripod pinch (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: The hand strength of Koreans peaked in the 30 to 39 age group. Key pinch was the strongest among the three pinch strengths. Right-handed people have a stronger right hand than the left hand, but the left-handed people have almost the same hand strength in both hands, except for the tripod pinch.
Female ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Pinch Strength

OBJECTIVE: To examine the intra-rater, inter-rater, and inter-instrumental reliability of the digitalized pinch muscle strength dynamometer. METHOD: Thirty normal subjects were examined for pinch strength, using both the Preston pinch gauge and the digitalized pinch dynamometer. The participants performed all pinch strength tests in the seated position as recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT). Three successive measurements were taken for each hand. The mean of the three trials was used for data analysis. The pinch strength tests performed used a repeated measure design and measurements were taken by each rater. RESULTS: The relationship between the Preston pinch gauge and the digitalized pinch dynamometer in pinch strength was reliable (the ICC were 0.821 and 0.785 in rater 1 and rater 2 respectively). The relationship between the first session and second session in pinch strength using the digitalized pinch dynamometer was reliable (the ICC were 0.872 and 0.886 in rater A and rater B respectively). The relationship between rater A and rater B in pinch strength using the digitalized pinch dynamometer was reliable (the ICC was 0.754). CONCLUSION: The pinch strength measurement using the digitalized pinch dynamometer is reliable within the rater and between raters. Thus, the Preston pinch gauge and the digitalized dynamometer measure grip strength equivalently, and can be used interchangeably.
Hand ; Hand Strength ; Muscle Strength ; Muscle Strength Dynamometer ; Pinch Strength ; Statistics as Topic

PURPOSE: Aquatic exercise program is known to have positive effects for health maintenance and improvement in inpatients with arthritis. Aquatic exercise program could be a way to obtain wellness in middle-aged women. However, there have been few studies to evaluate physical function. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of aquatic exercise on physical health such as body weight, BMI, muscle strength (grip strength, pinch pressure), and flexibility in healthy middle-aged women. METHOD: The subjects of the study were fifty healthy middle-aged women (40-59 years) who had no experience with exercise. Twenty five subjects were assigned to the experimental group and 25 to the control group. An aquatic exercise program which consisted of approximately one hour of exercise in the water, two days per week, for six weeks was given to the experimental group. Data were gathered from October 2000 to April 2001 using a questionnaire and physical function measure tool (pinch pressure, grip strength, weight, centimeter ruler). Data were analyzed with the SPSS win 10.0 using frequency, t-test, x2 test, paired t-test, and ANCOVA. RESULT: The results of this study are as follows: There were significant differences in body weight, BMI, right, left grip strength and right and left pinch pressure between the two groups. CONCLUSION: From these results, it is concluded that the aquatic exercise program for healthy middle-aged women can be effective in increasing physical health in these women.
Arthritis ; Body Weight* ; Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Muscle Strength* ; Pinch Strength ; Pliability* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Water

PURPOSE: We evaluated clinical outcomes of the trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis as a treatment for trapeziom-etacarpal arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients that received trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis for Eaton & Litter stage III(n=18) and IV(n=1) arthritis were enrolled in this study. Mean age was 45.8(43~67) and mean follow up duration was 2.3 years(1~4 years). Posttraumatic arthritis and idiopathic arthritis were 9 and 10 cases, respectively. The assessment included a preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) (0~10) and overall satisfaction with Roles & Maudsley score. Functional outcomes were assessed by measuring of grip and pinch strength and range of thumb motion. The evaluation also included postoperative complications. RESULTS: Mean preoperative VAS score was 6.6 points and improved to average 1.4 points postoperatively. Mean grip and pinch strength was improved from 12.1 kg to 26.5 kg and from 2.7 kg to 5.2 kg, respectively. The mean radial abduction arc of motion was 42.9 degrees. Metacarpophalangeal and thumb interphalangeal joint arc of motion was averaged 63.3 degrees and 73 degrees, respectively. Complications consisted of scaphotrapezoidal arthritis(n=1) and nonunion(n=1). CONCLUSION: The trapeziometacarpal arthrodesis could afford good functional results, pain relief in advanced arthritis patient.
Arthritis ; Arthrodesis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Joints ; Pinch Strength ; Postoperative Complications ; Thumb ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of Jebsen hand function test in rheumatoid arthritis patients. METHOD: The experimental subjects were divided into 3 groups (Group 1 : 17 persons; control, Group 2 : 21 persons; RA without hand deformity, Group 3 : 16 persons; RA with hand deformity). They were assessed by Jebsen hand function test. Further included assessments were grip and pinch strength, joint deformity counts, and visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Jebsen hand function test scores were significantly decreased in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with control. Jebsen hand function test scores were well correlated with visual analogue scales in group 2 and correlated with joint deformity counts in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Jebsen hand function test would be useful tool for the evaluation of hand function in the rheumatoid arthritis patients with hand deformity.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Hand Deformities ; Hand Strength ; Hand* ; Humans ; Joints ; Pinch Strength ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of hand grip and pinch strength in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHOD: The experimental subjects were divided into 3 groups (Group 1: 100 persons; control, Group 2: 100 persons; RA without hand deformity, Group 3: 100 persons; RA with hand deformity). They were assessed with using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), evaluating the activity of daily living (ADL). A JAMAR Hand Dynamometer(R), JAMAR Hydraulic Pinch Gauge(R) (Sammons Preston Rolyan, Ilinois, USA) were used to measure grip and pinch strength. Further assessments included joint deformity counts, and visual analogue scales. RESULTS: The grip and pinch strength significantly decreased in all groups. The total MBI with other groups significantly decreased in RA patients with hand deformity (group 3). The MBI correlated well with visual analogue scales in group 2 and with joint deformity counts in group 3. CONCLUSION: Hand grip and pinch strength tests would be a useful tool for the evaluation of hand function in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Hand ; Hand Deformities ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Joints ; Pinch Strength ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the components for vocational rehabilitation program including the strengths and job simulation, and to provide the data of the upper extremity strengths for a successful return to work. METHOD: Sixty normal untrained subjects(male 30, female 30) were examined for the grip and pinch strengths using Jamar dynamometer and Preston pinch gauge, and the strengths of five simulated tasks using work simulation of Cybex 6000 Testing and Rehabilitation System(Cybex, Division of Lumex, inc., USA). RESULTS: The values during the tasks were significantly different in males compared to females(p<0.01). Strengths of the right upper extremity by Jamar dynamometer, Preston pinch gauge, gripping device, T-handle(radial direction), and flutted knob(radial direction) were significantly different compared to the left(p<0.01). Grip strengths between Jamar dynamometer and gripping device of Cybex were highly correlated(p<0.01). All the measured values were significantly correlated with both weight and height(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used as a baseline data for the vocational rehabilitation in patients with a disability of upper extremity.
Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Pinch Strength ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Return to Work ; Upper Extremity*

Recently, increased emphasis has been placed on the need for rehabilitation professionals to objectively evaluate a patient's potential for and progress toward a return to normal function. But as medical recovery nears completion, additional questions are commonly asked by physicians regarding work function and ability to return to full active employment. In the past, therapists have attempted to reestablish the work situation using real tools, but these machines were expensive, have space limitations and in some cases, potentially dangerous as well. A Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment(BTE) Work Simulator overcomes these shortcomings. It can be used for isometric and isotonic evaluation and treatment and assisted in providing the information needed to make determinations regarding progress in therapy, return-to-work status and job modifications. We are going to obtain normative isometric, dynamic and endurance of grip strength, key pinch strength and three point pinch strength data using BTE Work Simulator model WS20. We also compare these data between ages and sexs. This study will be helpful in clinical applications of the BTE Work Simulator and providing the more specific job related occupational therapy and developing special vocational rehabilitation program.
Employment ; Hand Strength* ; Occupational Therapy ; Pinch Strength* ; Rehabilitation ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Return to Work

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of unilateral brain lesion on hand strength and dexterity of ipsilateral side in hemiplegic patients and the change of strength and dexterity of ipsilateral hand after rehabilitation according to the side of brain lesion. METHOD: Sixty four hemiplegic patients with unilateral brain lesion underwent hand function tests for the ipsilateral hand to the brain lesion. Grip strength, tip pinch, lateral pinch, and palmar pinch strength were measured, and Purdue pegboard test was performed. Results were compared with a group of forty age-matched healthy volunteers. RESULTS: There was significant decrement of hand strength and dexterity of ipsilateral side except grip strength in patients with unilateral brain lesion in the begining of rehabilitation compared with the controls. Hand strength and dexterity of ipsilateral hand was significantly improved after rehabilitation. There was no significant difference in hand strength and dexterity of ipsilateral side according to the side of hemispheric lesion. CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral upper extremity function in hemiplegic patients may also be affected adversely, and therefore rehabilitation treatment for ipsilateral upper extremity function should be involved.
Brain* ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hemiplegia* ; Humans ; Pinch Strength ; Rehabilitation ; Upper Extremity*

PURPOSE: Our goal was to investigate an improvement in hand strength and its associated factors after carpal tunnel decompression in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2008 and January 2009, a total of 31 patients (50 hands) treated with carpal tunnel decompression for carpal tunnel syndrome were enrolled into the study. Hand-strength was assessed pre- and post-surgery. In the pre-operation evaluation, we assessed multiple factors and investigated the association between these factors and recovery of hand strength. RESULTS: All patients regained hand strength after surgery. On average, the grip strength was 14.8 kg preoperatively, 13.0 kg at 6 weeks, 16.2 kg at 3 months, 18.7 kg at 6 months, and 20.6 kg at 1year postoperatively. The tip-pinch strength was 3.4 kg preoperatively and improved to 3.9 kg at 6 weeks, 4.0 kg at 3 months, 4.4 kg at 6 months and 4.7 kg at 1 year postoperatively. The key-pinch strength showed same pattern of improvement. The recovery of grip strength was significantly slower in patients with longer duration of carpal tunnel syndrome, with diabetes, or with nocturnal pain. There was no factor affecting the recovery of tip-pinch strength. Recovery of key-pinch strength was slower in patients that had experienced a longer duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Grip strength and pinch strength were recovered within 3 months and 6 weeks, respectively, after carpal tunnel decompression; both improved gradually until 12 months after surgery. Disease duration, diabetes, and nocturnal pain were significant factors that impacted on post-surgery recovery.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Decompression ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Pinch Strength