Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip
Published on: June 4, 2020
Using the "visual target grip test" to identify sincerity of effort during grip strength testing
Orit Shechtman1, Bhagwant S Sindhu, Paul W Davenport
1Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0164, USA. oshechtm@phhp.ufl.edu
Unlabelled:
We devised a sincerity of effort assessment based on "tricking" a person into exerting maximal effort by providing incorrect visual feedback. The assessment involves deriving a target line from nonvisual peak gripping force, instructing participants to reach it with each grip repetition, and then secretly changing its position, which requires doubling the force necessary to reach it. Accordingly, participants are tricked into exerting more force than intended to reach the deceptive target line. We examined the validity of this test by comparing force values between "trick" and "non-trick" trials in 30 healthy participants. The study design used was a prospective cohort. Providing incorrect visual feedback caused significantly greater increases in force during submaximal effort (69%) than during maximal effort (28%). This test effectively detected submaximal effort (sensitivity=0.83 and specificity=0.93). Although this test is not safe for patients during initial therapy, it may be appropriate for patients who can safely exert maximal grip force.
Level Of Evidence:
Not applicable.
