Grip strength

Static strength can be measured with a handgrip dynamometer.^{1Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 235.} Static tests only reflect the muscle group and joint angle tested, so they may say little about overall strength.^{1Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 235.} Even so, handgrip strength has predicted mortality.^{1Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 235.} ACSM publishes grip strength categories by age and sex.^{2Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 237.}

Grip strength is one of several valid muscle performance tests used to screen for sarcopenia, along with lower body strength, power and gait speed.^{3Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 429.} For children and teens it is an easy, low-skill strength test.^{4Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 393.} It is part of the ALPHA youth fitness battery, chosen for being valid, reliable and related to future health.^{5Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 862.}

In practice

• In young athletes, handgrip strength and jump tests correlate with one-repetition maximum, so they can stand in for heavy strength testing.^{6Haff and Triplett (eds.), Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th ed., p. 159.}
• Grip testing has shown high test-retest reliability in older adults with intellectual disability.^{7Ozemek et al., ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 12th ed., p. 883.}
• Farmer’s walks are suggested to build grip strength.^{8Haff and Triplett (eds.), Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 4th ed., p. 435.}
• Poor grip strength can make tire flips harder.^{9Schoenfeld and Snarr (eds.), NSCA’s Essentials of Personal Training, 3rd ed., p. 333.}
• Clients with rheumatoid arthritis commonly lose grip strength as finger joints swell.^{10Schoenfeld and Snarr (eds.), NSCA’s Essentials of Personal Training, 3rd ed., p. 604.}