Hand-held Dynamometer / Grip Strength

Chronic Stroke:

(Bertrand, et al, 2007; n = 17; mean age 53.7(13.0); paresis of the arm as a result of a unilateral stroke that occurred > one year earlier; three trials with time intervals between two sessions as well as the time of day not fixed; participants were not involved in a rehabilitation program) 

• SEM = 0.10 (19%) session 1
• SEM = 0.07 (13%) session 2 

(Boissy et al, 1999; n=15; mean age = 47 (14) years; single CVA with upper limb paresis > one year ; three measurement sessions held one week apart at approximately the same time of day; Lafayette modified prehensile dynamometer) 

• SEM = 33 (non-affected handgrip force)
• SEM = 25 (affected handgrip force)
• SEM = 16 (Left handgrip force control)
• SEM = 66 (Right handgrip force control) 

Reported acceptable SEMs (mean SEM = 14% of mean MVGF)

Stroke:

(Lang et al, 2008; n = 52; mean age 64 (14); independent prior to hemiparesis, Jamar grip dynamometer, Acute Stroke)

• 5.0 and 6.2 (kg) for the affected dominant and non-dominant sides

Stroke: 

(Bertland et al, 2007, Chronic Stroke) 

• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC 0.80 to 0.89)

Stroke: 

(Boissey et al, 1999, Chronic Stroke) 

• Excellent intrarater reliability (ICC > 0.086-0.95)

Stroke: 

(Boissy et al, 1999, stroke >1 yr, Chronic Stroke) 

• Adequate correlation with Fugi-Myer upper limb performance test (r = 0.84) 
• Adequate correlation with TEMPA upper limb function test 
• Adequate correlation with Box and Block affected upper limb score 
• Adequate correlation with finger-to-nose affected limb score

Stroke:

(Roberts et al, 2011) 

• Recovery after a stroke estimate the differences in repeat measures of hand grip strength to be between 4.7 kg and 6.2 kg

Community dwelling older adults:

(Desrosiers et al, 1994; n = 360; mean age = 73.9 (8.0) years; community dwelling older adults, Quebec, Canada , comparison Jamar dynamometer (kg) and Martin Vigorimeter (kPa))

Stegink Jansen et al, 2008; n = 224; mean age = 75.4 (6.8); good health with normal hand functions; Jamar dynamometer)

Community Dwelling Older Adults: 

(Bohannon et al, 2005; n = 21; mean age 75(5.9); 2 trials over a 12-week period; healthy community dwelling) 

• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.954 L, 0.912 R) 

(Abizanda, et al., 2012, n=281; mean age = 74.3 (4.9) years, healthy older adults) 

• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.9874)

Healthy Adults and Patients with Primary Osteoarthritis of the hand (POAH): 

(Ziv et al, 2008; n = 32 POAH; mean age 70.4 (10), n = 25 healthy adults; mean age 74.6 (8.4); measured twice within one week; Jamar dynamometer)

• SEM = 0.90 (kgf) right grip (healthy adults)
• SEM = 0.70 (kgf) left grip (healthy adults)
• SEM = 1.51 (kgf) right grip (POAH)
• SEM = 1.98 (kgf) left grip (POAH) 

Healthy Basketball players:

(Vassilis, G., 2012; n = 90; three groups: prepubertal 9.8(0.7), adolescents 14.4 (0.6), and adults 26.1 (5.6); three maximal isometric contractions on each hand, two occasions, one day apart)

• SEM = 2.88% preferred hand (whole group)
• SEM = 2.41% non-preferred hand (whole group) 
• SEM = 5.55% preferred hand (prepubertal)
• SEM = 4.13% non-preferred hand (prepubertal)
• SEM = 2.83% preferred hand (adolescents)
• SEM = 2.86% non-preferred hand (adolescents) 
• SEM = 2.40% preferred hand (adults)
• SEM = 2.22% non-preferred hand (adults)

Healthy Adults:

(Massy-Westropp et al, 2011; 1366 mean and 1312 women, community based Australian population, healthy adults, Jamar hand dynamometer)

(Mathiowetz et al, 1985; 628 volunteers between the ages of 20 - 94, free from disease or injury that can affect UE strength; Jamar dynamometer in pounds)

Healthy Adults: 

(Mathiowetz et al, 1984; n = 27; mean age 25; female OT students; two separate observations) 

• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.822 R, 0.915 L) 

(Reddon et al., 1985, n = 12, 6 men (21 to 36 yr.), 6 women (20 to 31 yr.), tested weekly for 10 weeks) 

• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.81-0.99) for preferred and non-preferred hands in men 
• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.83-1.0) for preferred and non-preferred hands in women

Healthy Adults: 

(Lindstrom-Hazel et al., 2009, n = 73 convenience sample, three trials bilaterally, healthy students, facility, and staff members from Midwest University) 

• Excellent interrater reliability (ICC = 0.996-0.998) 

(Mathewetz, V., 2002; n = 60; 30 females 30-49 years old mean 38.4 and 30 males 20-50 mean age 37.8; free from any neuromuscular or orthopedic dysfunction; testing between Jamar and Rolyan dynamometers) 

• Excellent inter-instrument reliability Male R hand (ICC = 0.97) 
• Excellent inter-instrument reliability Male L hand (ICC = 0.90) 
• Excellent inter-instrument reliability Female R hand (ICC = 0.90) 
• Excellent inter-instrument reliability Female L hand (ICC = 0.93) 

(Mathiowetz, et al, 1984,) 

• Excellent interrater reliability (ICC = 0.996 R, 0.999 L) 

(Peolsson, 2001; n = 32; mean age = 29; convenient sample healthy adults; three test leaders) 

• Excellent intrarater reliability (ICC = 0.94 and 0.98) 
• Excellent interater reliability (ICC = 0.98 for right and left handgrip strength)

Healthy Adults: 

(Bellace et al, 2000; n = 62; ages of 18-50, randomized order of testing between Jamar and Dexter dynamometer; healthy adults) 

• Excellent concurrent validity between dominant hand (ICC = 0.99) and nondominant hand (ICC = 0.98) 

(Mathewetz, V., 2002, healthy adults) 

• Excellent concurrent validity Rolyan dynamometer with known weights (0.9994 and 0.9997 before and after study) 
• Excellent concurrent validity Jamar dynamometer with known weights (0.9998 and 0.9998 before and after study)

Healthy Adults : 

(Nitschke et al, 1999; n = 42; mean age 32.3 (7.3) healthy female subjects & 42.6 (11.8) nonspecific regional pain in upper arm female subjects; Jamar dynamometer) 

• A change of more than 6 kg (13.2 lb) is necessary to detect a genuine change in grip strength 95% of the time. 

(Reddon et al., 1985) 

• Small change: effect size 0.01 for men’s non-preferred and women’s preferred hand and 0.13 for men’s preferred and 0.14 for women’s non-preferred hands over 10 week trial