title: Revised normative values for grip strength with the Jamar dynamometer.
abstract: The Jamar dynamometer has been widely used in various chronic illnesses and has demonstrated its strength as a potential prognostic indicator. Various stratified normative values have been published using different methodologies, leading to conflicting results. No study used statistical techniques considering the non-Gaussian distribution of the obtained grip strength (GS) values. Jamar GS was assessed in 720 healthy participants, subdivided into seven age decade groups consisting of at least 50 men and 50 women each. Normative values (median and fifth values) were calculated using quantile regressions with restricted cubic spline functions on age. Possible confounding personal factors (hand dominance, length, weight, hobby, and job categorization) were examined. Clinically applicable revised normative values for the Jamar dynamometer, stratified for age and gender, are presented. Hand dominance had no influence. Other personal factors only minimally influenced final values. This study provides revised normative GS values for the Jamar dynamometer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martine J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Sonja I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: van Nes
authors.forename: Els K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Vanhoutte
authors.forename: Mayienne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakkers
authors.forename: Pieter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: van Doorn
authors.forename: Ingemar S J
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Merkies
authors.forename: Catharina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Faber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult