Hand muscle strength, function, body mechanics and the recovery from injuries is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Musculoskeletal problems can create weakness in the hands reducing grip and performing fine motor skills such as writing or keyboarding. The purpose of hand muscle testing is to determine optimal physical functioning, assess a problem involving the nerves and muscles and to measure progress when recovering from an injury. Several ways to test hand muscle strength are available.
Muscle Testing
In the December 1990 issue of the "The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery," Dr. Alexander Sapega describes the protocols of manual testing to evaluate functional muscular performance. This combines elements of isometric testing, or testing the muscle under tension, with eccentric dynamic variable resistance, or when the muscle is shortened. Testing has evolved from research of joint motions, muscle attachments and their actions. Proper procedure is necessary to ensure accuracy and objective documentation.
Hand Dynamometer
Hand dynamometers measure maximum grip strength. You hold the instrument in your hand with your elbow at 90 degrees and squeeze. According to the "Internet Journal of Surgery," male grip strength exceeds female grip strength by 35 to 70 percent. Grip strength increases with age to peak between 30 and 45 years and then decreases. There is a positive correlation between grip strength, body weight and height. The dominant hand is usually 10 percent stronger. Left handed individuals show approximately the same strength in both hands.
Pinch Strength
A pinch gauge device is used to measure finger tip strength, pinching strength such as holding a key, and pinching your fingers into your palm. Measuring pinch strength is important in hand rehabilitation to assess your ability to manipulate objects such as a pen, keyboard, buttoning garments and personal hygiene. Aging has a degenerative effect on hand function, strength, and the ability to control pinch force. Aging also affects your ability to maintain a steady precision pinch, manual speed, and touch sensation.
Resistive Tests
Manual muscle testing can also assess individual muscles in the hand and fingers. Proper testing procedure and evaluation criteria are important to obtain an accurate assessment of the muscle's strength and function. Clinical skill is necessary to avoid producing pain or discomfort. Weakness in the thumb can affect the ability to hold the thumb over a clenched fist when gripping. Holding a piece of paper between your thumb and middle of your palm is a useful test.
Considerations
Manual muscle testing is useful to assess muscle imbalance where one muscle group may be used more than another, creating weakness. Rehabilitating hand injuries requires muscle testing to measure functional progress, record setbacks and to formulate a treatment plan. Many neuromuscular conditions can affect hand muscle strength requiring ongoing testing during rehabilitation. With the rising cost of health care, there is an increased demand for muscle testing measurements to validate patient progress and care.
Member Comments