Normative hand grip strength and prediction models for Iranian office employees.
BACKGROUND
Normative data on Hand grip strength has a wide range of application and is of great value.


OBJECTIVE
To establish gender and age-specific reference data concerning hand grip strength of Iranian office workers, to explore possible relationships with demographic and anthropometric factors and to develop appropriate predictive models.


METHODS
The study population included 418 (220 males and 198 females) Iranian office employees. They were divided into 5-year age-groups. Hand length, palm width, palm length, forearm length, wrist circumference, and forearm circumference were measured by means of a digital Caliper (±0.01 mm) and a tape meter (±0.1 cm). The value of hand grip strength was measured by JAMAR hydraulic dynamometer respecting the American Society of Hand Therapy recommendations.


RESULTS
The average of grip strength for dominant and non-dominant hands (in Kg) respectively was 51.10±9.50 and 46.90±9.89 for male and 28.76±4.47 and 25.89±4.60 for female. Age was curvilinearly related to hand grip strength. All selected hand dimensions were highly correlated with grip strength; palm width, palm length and hand length being the most correlated ones, respectively. Prediction equations of hand grip strength were developed for dominant and non-dominant hands of both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Suggested norms would provide more accuracy for ergonomic designers as well as health practitioners especially with regards to proposed prediction models with which grip strength could be estimated faster and easier.
['Rostamzadeh|Sajjad|S|', 'Saremi|Mahnaz|M|', 'Tabatabaei|Shahnaz|S|']
D000328:Adult D000367:Age Factors D000704:Analysis of Variance D000886:Anthropometry D005260:Female D005544:Forecasting D018737:Hand Strength D006801:Humans D007492:Iran D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009817:Office Management D012737:Sex Factors
Normative data gender JAMAR dynamometer hand anthropometry handedness