Normative Measurements of Grip and Pinch Strengths of 21st Century Korean Population

• Published in: Archives of plastic surgery Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 52 - 56
• Main Authors: Shim, Jin Hee, Roh, Si Young, Kim, Jin Soo, Lee, Dong Chul, Ki, Sae Hwi, Yang, Jae Won, Jeon, Man Kyung, Lee, Sang Myung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc 01.01.2013; The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons; 대한성형외과학회
• Subjects: demographic transition; hand strength; korean population; muscle dynamometer; Original; Original Article; pinch strength; 성형외과학; Muscle dynamometer; Hand strength; Pinch strength; Korean population; Demographic transition
• ISSN: 2234-6163; 2234-6171
• DOI: 10.5999/aps.2013.40.1.52

Background Measuring grip and pinch strength is an important part of hand injury evaluation. Currently, there are no standardized values of normal grip and pinch strength among the Korean population, and lack of such data prevents objective evaluation of post-surgical recovery in strength. This study was designed to establish the normal values of grip and pinch strength among the healthy Korean population and to identify any dependent variables affecting grip and pinch strength. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out. The inclusion criterion was being a healthy Korean person without a previous history of hand trauma. The grip strength was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Pulp and key pinch strength were measured with a hydraulic pinch gauge. Intra-individual and inter-individual variations in these variables were analyzed in a standardized statistical manner. Results There were a total of 336 healthy participants between 13 and 77 years of age. As would be expected in any given population, the mean grip and pinch strength was greater in the right hand than the left. Male participants (137) showed mean strengths greater than female participants (199) when adjusted for age. Among the male participants, anthropometric variables correlated positively with grip strength, but no such correlations were identifiable in female participants in a statistically significant way. Conclusions Objective measurements of hand strength are an important component of hand injury evaluation, and population-specific normative data are essential for clinical and research purposes. This study reports updated normative hand strengths of the South Korean population in the 21st century.