Grip Strength

Grip strength, a part of 'hand strength' is the application of force to pull or suspend an object. It is best observed as a person runs down a flight of stairs and holds on to or grips the rails to prevent a fall.Grip strength is studied as the strength applied by the forearm to hold on to or suspend an object, including the human body in question itself. The show of grip strength is most visible in the use of a hammer and other tools operated by hand. In order to determine the exact strength of your grip, it is important that the wrist should be in a neutral position. Lack of awareness towards the correct positioning of the wrist can lead to the onset of CTD or Cumulative Trauma Disorder. Grip strength is common term used athletes and in the case of strength athletes, the term refers to the muscular power and force that can be generated by the hand. Grip strength is vital for rock climbers and the martial arts. Other than sport, it is a major feature in various professions where people have to work out of this power.

Types of Grips
The hand is an amazing part of the human anatomy. It empowers the body to be able to grip and lift objects in a number of ways. The different ways are categorized according to the manner in which the grip strength via the hand is being used. In the crush grip, a typical hand shake like grip is involved. In this type, the object being gripped rests against the palm and the fingers, firmly. The conformity leads to a strong crush grip that is most flaunted in veru firm, bone-crushing handshakes and while applying the palm-finger pressure to break objects.

In the case of a pinch grip, the thumb balances one side to the object in question against the pressure of all the fingers on the opposite side. Usually, in this type of grip strength, the object is lifted without it touching the palm. This grip strength is not as strong as the crush grip. The weaker grip position is usually adopted to grab something like say a weight plate or book by the top edge. In the support grip, a lot of muscular strength and endurance is required. This grip is most observed while holding the handle of a bucket, for an extended period of time.

Calculating Grip Strength
Research and dedicated study has led to extensive medical and ergonomic discovery to calculate grip strength. Clinically, the calculation is done on the basis of the generated normative data. This includes the assessment of the average values determined and exhibited by men and women. The average differs in the case of the different types of grip and in different positions. However, when dealing with grip strength, it is not the calculation that is of importance, it is the application of the techniques.

Grip Strength in Medicine

Grip strength is often tested and applied within the paradigms of medicine, to diagnose diseases and to effectively evaluate and compare various treatment options. Grip strength also helps to document progression of muscle strength during the rehabilitation process to establish the level of hand function accomplished. Post surgery, during physiotherapy, it helps to assess fatigue, by creating an exercise where the subject is required to maintain a maximum contraction for a set period of time. The different types of grips involve the coordination of different joints and muscle groups. A dynamometer provides specific information on individual muscles in the hand. One such classic clinical application is the RIHM or Rotterdam Intrinsic Hand Myometer.

In the sports world, the hand grip is very important. This component of strength in sports is not a secondary or auxiliary function always, like in its application in the sports of weightlifting or judo. Its importance is most effectively on show in tennis and cricket. The ability is also put on show at odd performances at fairs, where the competitions are held regularly. The events include nail bending, one-arm dead-lifting, vertical bar lifting and the operation of standardized pinch apparatus.
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