Comparison of two electronic dynamometers for measuring handgrip strength

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Kinesiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of overall physical health and function.
• Standardized HGS measurements are crucial for accurate health assessments.
• Various dynamometers exist, necessitating validation for interchangeable use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the inter-instrument agreement and criterion validity of the Baseline BIMS Digital Grip Dynamometer against the Jamar electronic dynamometer (Jamar+).
• To determine if HGS measurements from these two devices can be used interchangeably in clinical and research settings.

Main Methods:

• Seventy participants (aged 23-88) performed three HGS trials with each dynamometer in a randomized order.
• Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated.
• New, manufacturer-calibrated dynamometers (Baseline BIMS and Jamar+) were utilized.

Main Results:

• An excellent overall ICC of 0.98 was observed between the two dynamometers.
• Minimal average differences were found for both the strongest attempt (0.68 kg) and the average of three attempts (0.37 kg).
• SEM and MDC values indicated low measurement error for the Baseline BIMS device compared to Jamar+.

Conclusions:

• The Baseline BIMS Digital Grip Dynamometer demonstrates high agreement and criterion validity when compared to the Jamar+.
• Results suggest that measurements obtained from both dynamometers can be used interchangeably.
• This facilitates consistent and reliable HGS assessments across different devices.