GRIP: Maximum Isometric Grip Strength Assessed with Three Different Hand-held Dynamometers

GRIP: Evaluation of the Comparability of the Maximum Isometric Grip Strength Measurement Assessed with the JAMAR© Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer, the JAMAR© Smart Hand Dynamometer and the Martin Vigorimeter

Maximum isometric grip strength (MIGS) is a cost-effective, easily accessible, valid and reliable outcome measure for assessing upper body strength in both, adults and children. The the JAMAR Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer is the current gold standard for measuring MIGS. For certain age- and activity-groups, alternative devices may be more appropriate. To date, the quality criteria (test-retest-reliability and validity) of the JAMAR Smart Hand Dynamometer and the Martin Vigorimeter compared to the current gold standard are not yet investigated. Furthermore, no reference values for different age-, sex-, or activity level groups exist with regard to underlying disease entities for these three devices.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Grip

Detailed Description

This quality analysis of test-retest reliability and validity (PART 1) serves as a basis for a further sensitivity analysis, whereby in a second step, a database with valid personalised age-, sex- and activity-related reference values for the respective measurement instrument, considering chronic concomitant diseases, is to be generated. The objectives of this study are therefore to 1) assess the test-retest reliability (intrasubject and intersession) and validity of JAMAR© Hydraulic and JAMAR© Smart dynamometers and Martin Vigorimeter (PART 1) and 2) undertake a sensitivity analysis providing valid personalised reference values for precision medicine (PART 2).

Thus, no study has yet comprehensively investigated all relevant influencing factors in a single and thus homogeneous study setting, so bias can be expected from this alone. The findings of this two-step study should enable physicians and therapists to compare the grip strength measurements of their patients with normative values in relation to their age, sex and activity group, as well as to any underlying chronic diseases that may be present. This allows realistic treatment and training goals to be set and patient performance to be interpreted.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 520

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Zürich, Switzerland, 8008
    • University Hospital Balgrist

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 10 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Part 1:

• Male and female volunteers (age 18-64 years) working at University Hospital Balgrist.
• 40 participants: to exclude possible sex aspects, ratio ♀: ♂ = 1:1

Part 2:

• Male and female volunteers (age ≥ 10 years). MIGS is used as a health indicator throughout different age- and sex groups.
• 20 participants per age-group and sex with a total of 520 subjects are planned

Description

Inclusion Criteria Part 1:

• Male and female volunteers with age 18-64 years
• Body mass index < 30 kg/m2
• Informed consent signed

Inclusion Criteria Part 2:

• Male and female volunteers with age ≥ 10 years
• Informed consent signed (if age < 14 years, signed by parents or legal guardians)

Exclusion Criteria Part 1 and 2:

• Disease or injury (e.g., musculoskeletal or neurological) that could affect upper extremity strength
• Physical impairment of the upper extremity (visible swelling or the presence of a splint or cast)
• Acute pain or infection
• Cognitive impairment (inability to understand and/or follow directions)
• Insufficient language of the German language

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
PART 1- Group A; Male and female volunteers (age 18-64 years) working at University Hospital Balgrist. Assessment of validity and intrasubject reliability of maximum isometric grip strength assessed with: JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer [kg]; JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer [kg]; Martin Vigorimeter [kPa]
PART 1 - Group B; Male and female volunteers (age 18-64 years) working at University Hospital Balgrist. Assessment of validity and intrasubject reliability and assessment of intersession reliability of maximum isometric grip strength assessed with: JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer [kg]; JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer [kg]; Martin Vigorimeter [kPa]
PART 2; Male and female volunteers (age ≥ 10 years). Maximum isometric grip strength is assessed (no intervention): JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer [kg]; JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer [kg]; Martin Vigorimeter [KPa]

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PART 1: Quality criteria: Intrasubject reliability	Test-retest reliability of the JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer, the JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer and Martin Vigorimeter measuring MIGS will be assessed by intrasubject realiability. --> 5 attempts per device and dominant/adominant hand will be measured.	5 minutes
PART 1: Quality criteria: Intersession reliability	Test-retest reliability of the JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer, the JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer and Martin Vigorimeter measuring MIGS will be assessed by intersession realiability. --> 5 attempts per device and dominant/adominant hand at two different days will be measured.	5 minutes
PART 1: Quality criteria: Validity	Validity of the JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer, the JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer and Martin Vigorimeter measuring MIGS will be assessed by plotting the differences in grip force measurements of the 3 measurement devices against their means, with ± 1.96 SD as cut-off values (limits of agreement). --> 5 attempts per device and dominant/adominant hand will be measured.	5 minutes
PART 2: Comparability of MIGS measurement	Evaluation of comparability of MIGS measurement assessed with the JAMAR© Smart Dynamometer, the JAMAR© Hydraulic Dynamometer and the Martin Vigorimeter -> Best out of 3 attempts per device and dominant/adominant hand	10 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PART 2: Age-specific refence values - JAMAR© Hydraulic	Age-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the JAMAR© Hydraulic. Age is assessed by the number of years. Thirteen age groups are established with an increment of five to ten years: 10-14/15-19/20- 29/30-39/40-44/45-49/50-54/55-59/60-64/65-69/70-74/75-79/80+	1 minute
PART 2: Age-specific refence values - JAMAR© Smart	Age-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the JAMAR© Smart. Age is assessed by the number of years. Thirteen age groups are established with an increment of five to ten years: 10-14/15-19/20- 29/30-39/40-44/45-49/50-54/55-59/60-64/65-69/70-74/75-79/80+	1 minute
PART 2: Age-specific refence values - Martin Vigorimeter	Age-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the Martin Vigorimeter. Age is assessed by the number of years. Thirteen age groups are established with an increment of five to ten years: 10-14/15-19/20- 29/30-39/40-44/45-49/50-54/55-59/60-64/65-69/70-74/75-79/80+	1 minute
PART 2: Sex-specific refence values - JAMAR© Hydraulic	Sex-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the , JAMAR© Hydraulic. Sex is recorded as male or female (biological sex).	0.5 minute
PART 2: Sex-specific refence values - JAMAR© Smart	Sex-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the JAMAR© Smart. Sex is recorded as male or female (biological sex).	0.5 minute
PART 2: Sex-specific refence values - Martin Vigorimeter	Sex-specific refence values for MIGS assessed with the Martin Vigorimeter. Sex is recorded as male or female (biological sex).	0.5 minute
PART 2: Physical activity-specific reference values - JAMAR© Hydraulic	Physical activity-specific reference values for MIGS measurements assessed with the JAMAR© Hydraulic. The IPAQ, the PAQ-A and the PAQ-C are used to assess individual levels of physical activity through all age groups. The IPAQ is a reliable and valid instrument that shows very good repeatability, was designed for people aged 18-65 years and is validated for persons aged 18-84 years. Adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age are assessed using the PAQ-A and children aged 10-14 years are assessed by the PAQ-C.	2 minutes
PART 2: Physical activity-specific reference values - JAMAR© Smart	Physical activity-specific reference values for MIGS measurements assessed with the JAMAR© Smart. The IPAQ, the PAQ-A and the PAQ-C are used to assess individual levels of physical activity through all age groups. The IPAQ is a reliable and valid instrument that shows very good repeatability, was designed for people aged 18-65 years and is validated for persons aged 18-84 years. Adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age are assessed using the PAQ-A and children aged 10-14 years are assessed by the PAQ-C.	2 minutes
PART 2: Physical activity-specific reference values - Martin Vigorimeter	Physical activity-specific reference values for MIGS measurements assessed with the Martin Vigorimeter. The IPAQ, the PAQ-A and the PAQ-C are used to assess individual levels of physical activity through all age groups. The IPAQ is a reliable and valid instrument that shows very good repeatability, was designed for people aged 18-65 years and is validated for persons aged 18-84 years. Adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age are assessed using the PAQ-A and children aged 10-14 years are assessed by the PAQ-C.	2 minutes
PART 2: Refence values for subjects with different disease entities - JAMAR© Hydraulic	Refence values for subjects with different disease entities that might influence target value of MIGS measurement assessed with the JAMAR© Hydraulic Any chronic disease entities that may be present, (possible chronic diseases according to organ class) are recorded: Pulmonary (e.g., COPD); Cardiac (e.g., CHF); Neurological (apoplexy, PNP); Gastroenterological (e.g., chronic gastritis); Gynaecological (e.g., endometriosis); Rheumatic (e.g., arthritis); Oncological; Musculoskeletal (e.g., spine, lower extremities); Metabolic (e.g., diabetes mellitus).	1 minute
PART 2: Refence values for subjects with different disease entities - JAMAR© Smart	Refence values for subjects with different disease entities that might influence target value of MIGS measurement assessed with the JAMAR© Smart Any chronic disease entities that may be present, (possible chronic diseases according to organ class) are recorded: Pulmonary (e.g., COPD); Cardiac (e.g., CHF); Neurological (apoplexy, PNP); Gastroenterological (e.g., chronic gastritis); Gynaecological (e.g., endometriosis); Rheumatic (e.g., arthritis); Oncological; Musculoskeletal (e.g., spine, lower extremities); Metabolic (e.g., diabetes mellitus).	1 minute
PART 2: Refence values for subjects with different disease entities - Martin Vigorimeter.	Refence values for subjects with different disease entities that might influence target value of MIGS measurement assessed with the Martin Vigorimeter. Any chronic disease entities that may be present, (possible chronic diseases according to organ class) are recorded: Pulmonary (e.g., COPD); Cardiac (e.g., CHF); Neurological (apoplexy, PNP); Gastroenterological (e.g., chronic gastritis); Gynaecological (e.g., endometriosis); Rheumatic (e.g., arthritis); Oncological; Musculoskeletal (e.g., spine, lower extremities); Metabolic (e.g., diabetes mellitus).	1 minute
PART 1 + 2: General health	The OSTRC questionnaire is used to assess general health before the first study appointment. The OSTRC contains four key questions recording the level of participation and performance impairment and the degree of symptoms caused by injury or illness. A severity score is then calculated based on these four questions.	10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Johannes Scherr
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Johannes Scherr, Prof Dr med, Balgrist University Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 17, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 24, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical therapy; Reference values; Maximum isometric grip strength; Hand-held dynamometer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Influenza, Human
• Other Study ID Numbers: BASEC-Nr.:2022-01400

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No