To perform day to day fine motor activities child require sufficient hand grip and pinch grip strength. Thus, an objective evolution of hand strength has become important for the therapist providing rehabilitative care including hand musculature weakness. Several studies have determined normative data for children but no literature has emphasized on using Baseline ® dynamometer for the evaluation tool.
The purpose of this study was to establish normative data bank using baseline hydraulic hand dynamometer and mechanical pinch gauge.
302 healthy children from 6 to 12 years age were evaluated using Baseline handheld dynamometer to measure palmar grip strength and mechanical pinch gauge dynamometer to evaluate pinch grip strength using a standardization testing protocol. The mean of three consecutive grip test were recorded.
Mean hand grip strength values for age 6,7,8,9,10,11,12 are 3.34 kgf, 6.28 kgf, 7.09 kgf, 7.94 kgf, 10.16 kgf, 11.84 kgf, 15.25 kgf respectively and pinch grip strength values are 2.44 kgf, 2.90 kgf, 3.40 kgf, 3.47 kgf, 4.46 kgf, 4.48 kgf, 4.65 kgf respectively. Mean hand grip and pinch grip strength for boys are 9.57 kgf and 3.96 kgf respectively and for girls 8.33 kgf and 3.37 kgf respectively.
we concluded that mean grip and pinch grip strength coincides with increase in chronological age, boys have stronger grip strengths in all age groups than girls and hand dominance affects grip strength scores. This study serves as reference of normality of hand and pinch grip strength in children.
Hand grip strength, Pinch grip strength, Children, Normative values, Dynamometer, Pinch gauge
