Normative Values for Pinch Strength-Relationship With Joint Hypermobility as Measured With the Beighton Criteria

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Hand Surgery
• Physiotherapy

Background:

• Static pinch strength is crucial for daily activities and occupational tasks.
• Hypermobility, particularly in the hands, may influence grip and pinch capabilities.
• Establishing normative data is essential for clinical assessment and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normative static pinch strength ranges in working-age adults.
• To investigate the association between hand hypermobility and pinch strength.
• To explore the correlation between Beighton criteria and hand joint hypermobility during forceful pinching.

Main Methods:

• Recruited healthy adults aged 18-65 for measurements.
• Assessed lateral, 2-point, and 3-point pinch strength using a spring gauge.
• Evaluated joint hypermobility using the Beighton criteria.

Main Results:

• Men demonstrated significantly greater pinch strength than women across all age groups.
• Lateral and 3-point pinch strengths were highest; 2-point pinch was lowest.
• Hypermobility, while present in a notable percentage of participants, did not significantly affect pinch strength.
• Beighton criteria strongly correlated with observed hand joint hypermobility during pinching.

Conclusions:

• Normative static pinch strength data for adults are established, with sex-based differences noted.
• The Beighton criteria effectively identify hypermobility in hand joints.
• Benign joint hypermobility does not appear to be a limiting factor for static pinch strength.