Hand grip strength and dexterity function in children aged 6-12 years: A cross-sectional study.
METHODS
Cross-sectional and clinical measurement.


BACKGROUND
Assessment of hand function considers an essential part in clinical practice.


OBJECTIVE
To develop normative values of hand grip strength and dexterity function for 6-12-year-old children in Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
Grip strength and dexterity function was measured in 525 children using Grip Track hand dynamometer (JTECH Medical, Midvale, UT, USA) and 9-hole pegboard test respectively.


RESULTS
The grip strength and dexterity function was improved as age progressed regardless of gender. Across all age groups, the hand grip strength of boys was significantly higher than girls for dominant hand (31.75 ± 10.33 vs 28.24 ± 9.35; P < .001) and nondominant hand (31.01 ± 10.27 vs 27.27 ± 9.30; P < .001). The girls performed slightly faster than boys for dominant hand (19.70 vs 20.68; P < .05) and nondominant hand (21.79 vs 23.46; P < .05). In general, girls completed a 9-HPT faster than boys in the 2 of 7 age groups: 11 years (9-HPT scores = 2.10 seconds; P < .01) and 12 years (9-HPT scores = 1.93 seconds; P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The overall patterns of hand grip strength and dexterity function observed in the present study are similar to the previous studies that established acceleration of grip strength with advanced age, and faster performance scores in older children than younger children in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
Norms of hand grip strength and dexterity enable therapists to identify some developmental characteristics of hand function among Saudi children, determine the presence of impairment, and compare scores from children in different clinical settings.


METHODS
Not applicable.
Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: dr.taher_m@yahoo.com.
Mohammed T A
MTA
Omar
Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad H
AH
Alghadir
Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Odontology, Clinical Oral Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Hamayun
H
Zafar
Physical Therapy Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Shaheerah
S
Al Baker
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D012016:Reference Values; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors
Children; Dexterity function; Hand strength