Human strength capabilities during one-handed maximum voluntary exertions in the fore and aft plane

Maximal static strengths were determined for one-handed exertions in all directions in the fore and aft plane. Data from 12 males and 10 females (mean age 30.7 yrs, standard deviation (SD) = 8.9 yrs, n = 22) were obtained with handle heights of 1.0 and 1.75 m. Twelve of the subjects also performed two-handed exertions at the same handle heights. The ratio of mean strengths of females to that of males ranged from 0.50 to 0.83 (for absolute forces) and from 0.63 to 1.00 for forces normalized to body weight. The ratios of one-handed to two-handed strengths ranged from 0.64 to 1.04. Two-handed strengths commonly exceeded one-handed strengths at the lower handle height, but showed fewer significant strength differences (p less than 0.05) according to direction at 1.75 m. Both female/male and one-handed/two-handed strength ratios were found to be dependent on direction of exertion and handle height. The observed strength dependencies upon number of hands (one or two-handed), direction of exertion, handle height and sex are discussed. The strength data have implications for use in biomechanical models and task analysis.