A study of pinch strength in normal Taiwanese adults

The purpose of this study was to describe norms of pinch strength for normal Taiwanese adults and to investigate the effects of age, gender, height, weight, and digit length on pinch strength. Three types of pinch (i.e. tip, key, and palmar pinch) were measured for a sample of 356 adults aged 20 to 88 years from a major metropolitan city located in southern Taiwan. A newly calibrated B&L pinch gauge was used for strength measurements with a standardized position during testing. The dominant hand was tested first, followed by the nondominant hand. The average of two trials for each pinch strength test was used as the subject's test scores. The results indicated that in the male group, pinch strength remained relatively stable up to 50 to 59 years old before a decline began, whereas pinch strength peaked with the 40- to 59-year-old group for female subjects. Males were stronger than females on all prehension patterns. Pinch strength of the right hand was significantly affected by such variables as the lengths of thumb and index finger and height, along with weight. With regard to the left hand, only height and weight had significant impact on pinch strength. Finally, there was an overall 13% pinch strength difference between the dominant and nondominant hands for the total sample. These findings provide therapists with objective data concerning the pinch strength of the Taiwanese adult's hand for clinical use.