INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS AND FOREARM POSTURES WITH GRIP STRENGTH IN YOUNG ADULTS.

BACKGROUND: Grip strength is widely accepted as an indicator of maximum hand strength and contraction of active muscles of the hand and forearm. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of forearm posture (pronation, supination and neutral) and anthropometric variation on MVC grip strength and grip endurance time in young university adults. METHODS: Fifty healthy, right-handed men volunteered to participate in this study. The experiment was characterized by measuring MVC grip strength and endurance time of 50% MVC randomly in three different postures (supine, pronation and neutral). Performance was assessed in terms of dependent variables: MVC grip strength and grip endurance time. RESULTS: MANCOVA results showed no significant effect of posture on MVC grip strength (p = 0:333) and grip endurance time (p = 0:772). There was a significant effect of age (p = 0.044), height (p = 0.012) and forearm length (p = 0.039) on the grip endurance time in supine position. However, palm circumference had a significant effect on MVC grip strength (p = 0.036) in pronation posture only. The pronation forearm posture produces 7.4% more grip strength than a supine posture. In addition, the grip endurance time was improved in the supine position, compared to the neutral and pronation forearm posture. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the MVC grip strength is affected by the weight and palm circumference. In addition, palm circumference was the most influential factor affecting grip strength. Thus, anthropometric and posture-specific grip strength data are essential for clinical and industrial applications. The results can be used to prepare guidelines for rehabilitation, health care, sport and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]