THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ELBOW POSITION AND GRIP STRENGTH

Forty-six graduate students participated in a study to investigate the effect of elbow position on grip-strength measurements Sixteen males and 30 females, aged 21 to 46 years, participated in the study. Data collection procedures followed standardized grip-strength testing guidelines established by the American Society of Hand Therapists, with the exception of elbow position. Grip-strength measurements were taken with the elbow positioned at 0-degrees, 45-degrees, 90-degrees, and 135-degrees of flexion. The results showed a significantly stronger grip-strength measurement at 0-degrees of flexion and the weakest grip-strength measurement at 135-degrees of flexion. This study supports the use of a standardized method for band-strength testing. The knowledge that grip-strength measurement is highest when the elbow is fully extended could affect treatment planning.