The effect of shoulder position on maximal handgrip strength : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)
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Abstract
The intent of this investigation was to examine gender and shoulder position effects on maximal handgrip strength. This cross-sectional study tested straight-arm grip strengths of 104 apparently healthy adults, ages 18 to 82, in three different positions of shoulder flexion: above the head (180° frontal plane shoulder flexion), towards the front (90° frontal plane shoulder flexion), and down to the side (0° frontal plane shoulder flexion). The position orders were randomized, and the best of three for each position was analyzed for data. A 2-way (gender by shoulder position) ANOVA with repeated measures on the shoulder position main effect was used to analyze the data. A Bonferroni post-hoc test was employed to isolate specific differences that could be attributed to shoulder position. It was found that, although the men's and women's means and standard deviations differed for the three positions, the way in which the scores varied was the same. Both genders displayed the greatest grip strength in the following order: above > down > front. It is possible that the above position allows for the greatest grip strength due to the synergistic effect of the muscles supporting the shoulder in full flexion. Further research is needed to confirm as well as explain these results.