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Grasp and pinch strength in children 5 to 12 years old
Insights
This study established normative grasp and pinch strength data for children aged 5-12. Strength increases with age, with males generally stronger than females, but hand dominance was not a significant factor.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric medicine
- Hand therapy
- Biometrics
Background:
- Establishing normative data for pediatric hand strength is crucial for clinical assessment.
- Previous research may lack comprehensive data across a wide age range.
- Understanding typical hand strength development aids in identifying functional deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create normative reference data for grasp and pinch strength in children aged 5 to 12 years.
- To provide clinicians with reliable data for evaluating pediatric hand conditions.
- To analyze strength variations based on age, sex, and hand dominance.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 474 children aged 5 to 12 years participated in the study.
- Grasp strength was measured using the Jamar dynamometer.
- Pinch strength was assessed with the Preston pinch gauge.
Main Results:
- A consistent increase in both grasp and pinch strength was observed with advancing chronological age and development.
- Males demonstrated slightly greater strength than females across all tested age groups.
- Hand dominance was found to be an insignificant predictor of hand strength in this pediatric population.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully generated normative data for pediatric grasp and pinch strength.
- Findings highlight age-related strength progression and minor sex-based differences.
- These normative values can inform clinical decision-making for children with hand impairments.
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to establish normative data concerning grasp and pinch strength for use by clinicians who are treating children with hand problems. A population of 474 children ages 5 to 12 were tested using the Jamar dynamometer and the Preston pinch guage. Means and standard deviations of all measurements for all subjects were determined. Results of the study indicate that there is a steady increase in both grasp and pinch strength that coincides with the increase in chronological age and development; males are consistently stronger than females across the age range in all tests, although the differences are not striking. Hand dominance was judged not to be an important factor in predicting strength in this population.