Determination of the Optimum Setting of an Adjustable Grip Dynamometer

Although adjustable grip dynamometers have been in use for a long time, apparently no one has reported data on the optimum setting for a given hand size. The study population was made up of 138 males and 64 females including adults and children of various ages. The following data were recorded for each subject: name, date of birth, length of hand, width of hand, length of second finger, and glove size. Grip strength of the dominant hand was measured at ten different settings with a Stoelting grip dynamometer. Order of settings was random and there was adequate rest between each trial. The grip strength curves at different settings and for various hand measurements were examined. A slight advantage is gained, particularly for subjects with large or small hand size, through the use of an adjustable grip dynamometer. Of the hand measurements studied in this investigation, hand width appears to be the best criterion for determining optimal dynamometer setting.