Effects of Close Kinetic Chain Exercise on Hand Grip Strength in Young Adult Males

Background: Hand grip strength (HGS) is a key biomarker of overall muscular function, health status, and athletic performance. While open kinetic chain exercises are commonly employed to enhance HGS, the acute effects of close kinetic chain exercises (CKCE) on grip strength remain underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the immediate impact of CKCE on hand grip strength in healthy young adult males, focusing on both dominant and non-dominant forearms. Methods: Twenty-seven untrained male participants (mean age 19.56 ± 1.50 years) performed a standardized CKCE protocol involving wrist curls, grip crush, forearm squeezes, and fingertip push-ups. Hand grip strength was assessed at baseline (pre-test) and at 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes post-exercise using a digital grip dynamometer and EMG analysis. Repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests were conducted to evaluate within-subject changes. Findings: Significant reductions in HGS were observed post-exercise. In the dominant forearm, grip strength significantly declined at 2 minutes (p = 0.004) and 5 minutes (p = 0.015) compared to pre-test values. In the non-dominant forearm, a significant difference was noted between 30 seconds and 5 minutes’ post-exercise (p = 0.01). The results suggest that CKCE induces acute muscular fatigue, leading to transient reductions in grip strength. Conclusion: CKCE elicits immediate but temporary reductions in hand grip strength due to neuromuscular fatigue. These findings are relevant for clinicians and trainers in designing exercise programs aimed at functional strength and recovery optimization.