(19) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRIP STRENGTH, PINCH STRENGTH, AND MANUAL MUSCLE STRENGTH OF THE ARM AND HAND IN COLLEGE ATHLETES

Introduction: The ability to grasp, hold, and apply force to objects is important in sports performance. This ability is demonstrated by the approximately 38 muscles of the forearm and hand.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between hand grip strength and various forearm and hand muscle strength tests.

Methods: This study was a correlational study examining the relationship between hand grip strength, pinch strength, and forearm strength in Division III college athletes. Subjects were recruited by word of mouth at Hardin Simmons University. Upon completion of the informed consent and demographic data collection, a 5-minute warm-up was conducted. Proceeding the warmup, individuals were tested on hand grip strength using a hand grip dynamometer on the left (HGD-L) and right side (HGD-R), pinch strength on the left (L) and right (R) side using a pinch gauge, and manual muscle strength on the left (MMT-L) and right (MMT-R) side using a dynamometer. The tip pinch (TP), key pinch (KP), and 3-jaw (3J) measures were taken for pinch strength. Wrist flexion (WF), wrist extension (WE), radial deviation (RD), ulnar deviation (UD), supination (S), and pronation (P) measures were taken for manual muscle testing.

Results: The study consisted of 19 subjects (age = 22 ± 5.8). There was a significant positive relationship between HGD-L and Tip pinch L (r=.52, p< .05), Tip pinch R (.66, p < .05), Key Pinch L (r =0.52, p< .05), Key Pinch R (r = .66, p< .05), 3-Jaw-L (r = .76, p < .05), 3-Jaw-R (r= .74, p< .05), MMT:WF,L (r = .71, p < .05), MMT:WF,R (r = .69, p< .05), MMT:WE,L (r= .72, p< .05), MMT:WE,R (r= .74, p< .05), MMT:RD,L (r= .55, p< .05), MMT:RD,R (r= .62, p< .05), MMT:UD,L (r= .68, p< .05), MMT:UD,R (r= .61, p< .05), MMT:S,L (r= .84, p< .05), MMT:S,R (r= .83, p< .05), MMT:P,L (r= .90, p< .05), MMT:P,R (r= .86, p< .05). There was a significant positive relationship between HGD-R and Tip pinch L (r=.55, p< .05), Tip pinch R (.70, p < .05), Key Pinch L (r = .88, p< .05), Key Pinch R (r = .90, p< .05), 3-Jaw-L (r = .80, p < .05), 3-Jaw-R (r= .77, p< .05), MMT:WF,L (r = .70, p < .05), MMT:WF,R (r = .69, p< .05), MMT:WE,L (r= .66, p< .05), MMT:WE,R (r= .68, p< .05), MMT:RD,L (r= .48, p< .05), MMT:RD,R (r= .58, p< .05), MMT:UD,L (r= .66, p< .05), MMT:UD,R (r= .60, p< .05), MMT:S,L (r= .83, p< .05), MMT:S,R (r= .83, p< .05), MMT:P,L (r= .86, p< .05), and MMT:P,R (r= .79, p< .05).

Conclusion:  The results indicate hand grip strength is directly related to pinch strength, and strength in actions of wrist flexion/extension, wrist radial deviation/ulnar deviation and supination/pronation. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results may suggest hand grip strength in college athletes is a good indicator of pinch, wrist, and forearm strength. Therefore, it seems plausible to implement exercises to develop hand grip strength for college athletes involved in sports requiring grip, pinch, and forearm strength.

Acknowledgements: None