title: Investigation of grip and pinch strengths in Iranian adults and their correlated anthropometric and demographic factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Grip and pinch strength measurement is important for objective evaluation of the function of the upper extremities in upper limbs injuries treatment and also for ergonomists as a way of optimizing the requirements of hand tool design.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted to investigate the correlation of anthropometric and demographic factors with hand strength as well as to develop regression models for grip and three types of pinch strengths including Tip, Key and Palmar in Iranian adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 1008 Iranian adults aged 20 to 107 years. Participants were selected using a stratified random sampling method from crowded places of the cities with the highest number of Persian ethnic group. Strength measurements were undertaken according to recommendations by the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study found a positive and significant correlation between all measured strengths and anthropometric factors. The regression equations of grip and pinch strengths were developed for dominant and non-dominant hands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study provided more information about correlated factors of grip and pinch strengths. The regression equations developed in this research are applicable to clinical treatment and ergonomics programs.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadian
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Choobineh
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Modeling in Health, Institute for Future Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Department, School of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hashemi Nejad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052581:Pinch Strength / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Regression models; anthropometric measurements; grip strength; pinch strength