Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Muscular fatigue patterning in power grip assessment

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Physical fatigue has been identified as a risk factor associated with the onset of occupational injury. Muscular fatigue developed from repetitive hand-gripping tasks is of particular concern. This study examined the use of a maximal, repetitive, static power grip test of strength-endurance in detecting differences in exertions between workers with uninjured and injured hands, and workers who were asked to provide insincere exertions. The main dependent variable of interest was power grip muscular force measured with a force strain gauge. Group data showed that the power grip protocol, used in this study, provided a valid and reliable estimate of wrist-hand strength-endurance. Force fatigue curves showed both linear and curvilinear effects among the study groups. An endurance index based on force decrement during repetitive power grip was shown to differentiate between uninjured, injured, and insincere groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Isernhagen SJ.Work injury management and prevention. Aspen Publishers, Maryland, 1988, pp. 73, 81–83.

    Google Scholar 

  2. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Health Hazard Evaluation Report (HETA 89-250-2046). NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1990, p. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  3. National Safety Council. Control of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (ANSI-3,365 Draft Standard). National Safety Council, Itasca, Illinois, 1993, pp. 3–1, and 5–3.

    Google Scholar 

  4. State of California. Prevention of Cumulative Trauma Disorders (General Safety Orders, article 106, section 5110; proposed state standard, title 8, chapter 4). Sacramento, California: 1993, pp. 15–16.

  5. American Medical Association.Guides to the evaluation of permanent impairment (4th Ed.). AMA, Chicago, IL, AMA, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mathiowetz V, Kashman N, Volland G, Weber K, Dowe M, Rogers S. Grip and pinch strength: Normative data for adults.Arch Phys Med Rehab 1985; 66: 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Chaffin D. Ergonomics guide for the assessment of human strength.Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1975; 36: 505–510.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chengalur SN, Smith GA, Nelson RC, Sadoff AM. Assessing sincerity of effort in maximal grip strength tests. Part II.Am J Phys Med Rehab 1990; 69: 148–163.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gilbert JC, Knowlton RG. Simple methods to determine sincerity of effort during a maximal isometric test of grip strength.Am J Phys Med 1983; 62: 135–144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Neiburgh B, Marion R. Detecting sincerity of effort when measuring grip strength.Am J Phys Med 1987; 66: 16–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Robertson LD, Mullinax CM, Brodowicz GR, Miller RA, Swafford AR. The relationship between two power-grip testing devices and their utility in physical capacity evaluations.J Hand Ther 1993; 6: 194–201.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Robinson ME, Geisser ME, Hanson CS, O'Connor PD. Detecting submaximal efforts in grip strength testing with the coefficient of variation.J Occup Rehab 1993; 3: 45–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Smith G, Nelson RC, Sadoff SJ, Sadoff AM. Assessing sincerity of effort in maximal grip strength tests.Am J Phys Med Rehab 1989; 68: 73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Stokes HM. The seriously injured hand—weakness of grip.J Occup Med 1983; 25: 683–684.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kroll W. Analysis of local muscular fatigue patterns.Res Quart Exercise Sport 1981; 52: 523–539.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Byrd R, Jenness ME. Effect of maximal grip strength and initial strength on contraction time and on areas under force-time curves during isometric contractions.Ergonomics 1982; 25: 387–392.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tuttle WW, Janney CD, Thompson CW. Relation of maximum grip strength to grip strength endurance.J Appl Physiol 1950; 2: 663–670.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Department of Labor.Dictionary of occupational titles (4th Ed.). U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration, Washington, DC, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Fess EE, Moran C.Clinical assessment and recommendations. American Society of Hand Therapists, Garner, NC, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Clarke HH, Shay CT, Mathews DK. Strength decrement index: A new test of muscular fatigue.Arch Phys Med Rehab 1955; 36: 376.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hildreth DH, Breidenbach WC, Lister GD, Hodges AD. Detection of submaximal effort by use of the rapid exchange grip.J Hand Surg 1989; 14A: 742–745.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Laubach LL. Comparative muscular strength of men and women: A review of the literature.Aviat Space Environ Med 1976; 47: 534–542.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kroll W. Isometric fatigue curves under varied intertrial recuperation periods.Res Quart 1968; 39: 106–115.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kroll W. Isometric strength fatigue patterns in female subjects.Res Quart 1971; 42: 286–298.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Smith LE, Edwards DK. Prediction of muscular endurance (work performance) from individual differences in initial and post training increments in static strength.Hum Factors 1968; 10: 345–350.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kroemer KHE, Marras WS. Toward an objective assessment of the maximal voluntary contraction component in routine muscle strength measurements.Eur J Appl Physiol 1980; 45: 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Robertson, L.D., Mullinax, C.M., Brodowicz, G.R. et al. Muscular fatigue patterning in power grip assessment. J Occup Rehab 6, 71–85 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02110395

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02110395

Key words

Navigation