Influence of hand dominance, gender, and body mass index on hand grip strength.
Mercy A Agtuahene, Jonathan Quartey, Samuel Kwakye
PMID 37928652WHAT IT FOUND
Dominant hands were stronger than non-dominant hands in all groups.
Grip strength correlated with height and BMI, but not weight. These norms for Ghanaian students can help set realistic targets for hand rehabilitation.
Key findings
01Grip strength was significantly higher in the dominant hand compared to the non-dominant hand for both right-handed and left-handed males and females.
02Grip strength showed a statistically significant relationship with height and BMI, but no significant relationship with weight.
03Mean grip strength values for the study population fell within the range of normative values reported for healthy individuals in Asia and Europe.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used convenience sampling of university students, which limits the generalisability of the findings to the broader population or older adults. The sample was heavily skewed towards right-handed individuals (90.8%), meaning the data for left-handed participants, particularly females, is based on a small number of people. The dynamometer setup provided external support, which may have influenced the grip strength measurements compared to unsupported testing. The study only included healthy individuals with no hand injuries, so the norms may not apply to patients with existing upper limb pathologies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that grip strength correlates with weight. The study found no significant relationship between weight and grip strength, despite weight often being used as a proxy for muscle mass in other contexts.