Using anthropometry and strength values to predict grip strength

摘要

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine how 20 anthropometric and four strength measures relate to three hand-grip strengths in men and women. The hand-grip strength of 12 men and 11 women, ranging in age from 18 to 31 years, was evaluated using three different sets of instruction for force exertion: 1) quick build-up to peak force followed by sustained maximal effort, 2) immediate maximal exertion followed by relaxation and, 3) slow build-up to peak force followed by sustained maximal effort. Anthropometric measures were taken on each of the subjects and included height, weight, percent body fat, fat free mass, age, trochanteric height, and the following lengths: acromion-dactylion, shoulder-elbow, radial-styloid, elbow to grip, hand, plam, handbreadth, first finger, and first phalanx. Hand circumference, first circumference, grip diameter, forearm circumference-flexed, and forearm circumference-relaxed were also measured. Strength measures included 38cm upright pull, bench press, dead lift, and incremental dynamic lift. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients compared independent variables and forward stepwise multiple regression analyses were used for predictions. For the grip strength procedure using a quick build-up, the best predictor was forearm circumference-flexed (r~2=0.80, p<0.01). Grip strength testing using an immediate maximal exertion, followed by immediate relaxation, revealed forearm circumference-relaxed and the incremental dynamic lift as the best predictors (r~2=0.84, 0<0.01). The dead lift was the best predictor (r~2=0.78, p<0.01) for grip strength using a slow build-up of force. Although the number of subjects used was small, the results indicate potential use of forearm circumference to predict grip strength. The predictive value is likely due to the foream housing the following hand flexor muscles: flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor carpi radialis and the flexor retinaculum.