Maximal Dynamic Grip Force and Wrist Torque: The Effects of Gender, Exertion Direction, Angular Velocity, and Wrist Angle

Jonathan L. Morse, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Myung-Chul Jung, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Gregory R. Bashford, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
M. Susan Hallbeck, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Document Type Article

Published in Applied Ergonomics 37:6 (November 2006), pp. 737-742; doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2005.11.008 Copyright © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. Used by permission. http://www.elsevier.com/locate/apergo

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of gender, exertion direction, angular velocity and wrist angle on simultaneous grip force and wrist torque under the isokinetic condition. The study used 20 participants (10 males and 10 females) and included 6 angular velocities (15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90°/s) and 2 wrist exertion directions (flexion and extension) over the wrist range of motion of 70° flexion to 60° extension in 5° increments. Similar to other studies, males and flexion exertion produced larger forces than females and extension exertion, respectively. However, the largest forces were generated at near extreme flex¬ion of the wrist and the dependent variable of angular velocity was not practically significant. These results can contribute to the evaluation of cumulative trauma syndromes, but there is a need for more research on the dynamic measures of the hand and wrist complex and for standard development for dynamic force measurement.