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Grip force monitoring on the hand: Manugraphy system versus Jamar dynamometer

  • Handsurgery
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

For clinical grip force assessment, the Jamar dynamometer is a wide accepted tool. Users have to be aware that this method does not represent all grip efforts applied. The Manugraphy system is a tool that measure total grip force as well as identify load distribution patterns of the hand while gripping cylinders wrapped with calibrated capacitive matrix sensor mats. The aim of this study was to validate an assessment setting of the Manugraphy system for clinical use. Further, the relationship and difference between the Manugraphy system and the Jamar dynamometer were investigated.

Materials and methods

At two study centers, 152 healthy volunteers performed grip force tests with a digital Jamar dynamometer using handle positions 3 and 4 and the novel® Manugraphy system using two cylinders with circumferences of 150 and 200 mm. The subjects performed grip force testing with both devices on three different days. The intra- and inter-day variability for both methods was evaluated. To compare the values of both systems, the Spearman correlation coefficient was calculated.

Results

The force values, as measured by the sensor matrix, were higher than those of the Jamar dynamometer. Analyses showed significant positive correlations between values obtained by the two measurement methods (p < 0.001). There was no significant inter-day variation for the 200-mm cylinder of the Manugraphy system. For the 150-mm cylinder, a significant variation was observed at center B, but not at A. Nevertheless, the fluctuation of the grip force values obtained with the Manugraphy system was equal or better than those obtained with the Jamar dynamometer.

Conclusions

The force values, obtained using the two systems, have a high correlation but are not directly comparable. Both systems allow valid and constant grip force measurement. As the sensor mat detects all forces applied perpendicularly to the cylinder surface, it characterizes grip force better than the Jamar dynamometer. In addition, information about load distribution of the hand is gained.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Peter Seitz, who provided the technical setting, data acquisition, and analysis on behalf of novel® biomechanics laboratory. Two of the authors are employees of this laboratory. The study centers did not receive any financial support, nor was there a conflict of interest regarding the data analysis or manuscript writing. The clinical part of the study, the statistics, and manuscript preparation were performed within the scope of the duties of the involved public institutes without additional funding. The primary author did not receive any funding, grants, honoraria, any other form of recognition, nor compensation of any kind from a sponsor. Thanks to Susanne Rein, who supported us by preparing the graphs and by proofread the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinic for Hand Surgery, Rhön Klinikum AG, Salzburger Leite 1, 97616, Bad Neustadt / Saale, Germany

    Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor, Steffen Ziegler & K. J. Prommersberger

  2. Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Rostock, Schillingallee 35, 18057, Rostock, Germany

    Christoph Harms, Julia Neumann & Thomas Mittlmeier

  3. Novel Biomechanics Laboratory, Ismaninger Str. 51, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Alessandra Cristalli & Axel Kalpen

  4. Institute of Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, University of Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Str. 8, 18057, Rostock, Germany

    Günther Kundt

Authors
  1. Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor
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  2. Steffen Ziegler
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  3. Christoph Harms
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  4. Julia Neumann
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  5. Alessandra Cristalli
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  6. Axel Kalpen
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  7. Günther Kundt
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  8. Thomas Mittlmeier
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  9. K. J. Prommersberger
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Correspondence to Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor.

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Mühldorfer-Fodor, M., Ziegler, S., Harms, C. et al. Grip force monitoring on the hand: Manugraphy system versus Jamar dynamometer. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134, 1179–1188 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2027-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2027-3

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