title: Upper limb strength: study providing normative data for a clinical handheld dynamometer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish normative clinical data for upper extremity strength of men and women, ages 20-64 years, using a portable clinical device, the Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (NMMT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study collected objective upper extremity strength data for 180 healthy men and women using the NMMT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in outpatient and community settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty normal volunteers (90 men and 90 women).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven upper extremity muscle groups were tested using standardized methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were recorded for each muscle group in each subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study presents data from 180 healthy, normal subjects, equally divided by gender and age. Means ± standard deviations were determined for each group and further categorized by age, gender, and hand dominance. These data confirm some expected patterns: In all the muscle groups men have significantly higher strength than women, and the dominant side is stronger than the nondominant side in men and women. Relative values for various muscle groups are analyzed and presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides an initial normative database across a wide age range in men and women for upper extremity strength for monitoring clinical care and research for injured and impaired patients. These data are an essential and initial step toward comprehensive normative databases for upper extremity objective ordinal strength measurements with the NMMT.
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL(∗).
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Harlinger
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL(†).
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blalock
authors.affiliation: James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL; Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL(‡). Electronic address: RehabMedSouth@gmail.com.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Merritt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult