ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify the difference of peak torque, total work, and averagepower according to grip size(small, midium and maximal size) on forearm pronation and supination, andthereby provide research materials regarding grip, pronation, and supination strengths, and offer guidelinesabout optimal grip size of tools.Methods : Twenty one healthy males who have right dominant hand were recruited for this study. Grip sizewas divided into three categories(13, 16 & 19cm), and the subjects were measured twice using BiodexSystem 3 Pro dynamometer isokinetic test. The data were analyzed suing an SPSS 12.0 program for one-way repeated ANOVA and Bonferoni's correction.Results : There was a significant difference in peak torque, total work, and average power according to gripsize(small, midium & maximal size)(p<.01). Especially middle size of grip showed relatively high numericalvalue in the peak torque, total work, and average power. For peak torque, the total work , and average powerwere analyzed comparatively on forearm supination, and showed significant difference in midium vs. maximaland small vs. midium(p<.05), while for forearm pronation, they showed significant difference in midium vs.maximal, small vs. midium & small vs. maximal size(p<.05). Conclusion : This study shows that there are significant differences in the peak torque, total work & averagepower according to grip size. Further study is needed to examine impacts of grip size and the sex on forearmtorque, and to identify appropriate grip size for each hand.