title: Effect of self-selected handgrip position on maximal handgrip strength.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether participants were able to select the handgrip position on a Jamar hand dynamometer with which the maximal handgrip strength could be delivered, while sitting and while standing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A criterion standard comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university campus in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six healthy subjects (30 men, 26 women; mean age, 30 y; range, 19-60 y) voluntarily participated. Interventions Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximal handgrip strength for the self-selected and non-self-selected handgrip position of the hand dynamometer (positions 2 or 3), while sitting and while standing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The self-selected handgrip position resulted in the highest mean maximal grip strength compared with the non-self-selected handgrip strength, both for sitting (mean difference, 2.3 kg; P </=.001) and for standing (mean difference, 2.1 kg; P </=.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both in sitting and in standing, participants were able to self-select the handgrip position on the hand dynamometer with which the maximal handgrip strength could be delivered. Therefore, it may be useful to introduce self-selection of the handgrip position in protocols to assess the maximal handgrip strength.
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, AmCOGG, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Juliette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boadella
authors.forename: P Paul
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Kuijer
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.forename: Monique H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Frings-Dresen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged