Grip Strength: Effect of Hand Dominance

Nurgul Arinci Incel, Esma Ceceli, Pinar Bakici Durukan, H Rana Erdem, Z Rezan Yorgancioglu
Correspondence: Dr Nurgul Arinci Incel Mucize Sokak, nincel@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Aim of the Study Reliable and valid evaluation of hand strength is important for determining the effectivity of treatment strategies and it is accepted that grip and pinch strength provide an objective index for the functional integrity of upper extremity. This study was designed to evaluate the grip and pinch strength differences between sides for the right and left handed population.
Methods The study included 128 right and 21 left hand dominant volunteers. Grip strength of the participants were measured by using a Jamar dynamometer. Pulp pinch strength measurements were performed by manual pinchmeter.
Results When the study group was totally evaluated, a statistically significant difference was found between the grip and pinch strengths of dominant and nondominant hands in favour of the dominant hand. For further information we grouped 149 participants as right and left handed and investigated the number of subjects with stronger nondominant hand for each group. The percentage of stronger nondominant hand grip was 10.93% and 33.33% for right and left handed groups respectively. The results were less significant for pinch strength with 28.12% and 28.57% for right and left handed subjects respectively.
Conclusion We concluded that the dominant hand is significantly stronger in right handed subjects but no such significant difference between sides could be documented for left handed people.

Keywords: grip strength, pinch, hand dominance, Jamar
Singapore Med J 2002; 43(5): 234-237