An Analysis of Hand Size and Grip Strength in a Working  Population in Bogotá, Colombia

Christian Ricardo  Zea Forero; Manuel  Medina-Labrador; Magda  Monroy Silva; Jose-Fernando  Jimenez

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i5.18635

Christian Ricardo Zea Forero Department of Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Manuel Medina-Labrador Department of Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Magda Monroy Silva Faculty of Industrial Engineering, Universidad Santo Tomás Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Jose-Fernando Jimenez Symme Laboratory, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Annecy, France

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i5.18635

Keywords: Handgrip strength; Hand anthropometry; Dynamometry

Abstract

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) has been extensively studied for its clinical and industrial significance, often linked to anthropometric measures like height, weight, and hand dimensions. In Colombia, research on these correlations exists but is fragmented and methodologically varied, limiting the ability to generalize findings. This lack of standardization highlights the need for a unified approach. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing HGS in the Colombian context.

Methods: Overall, 678 subjects (48.9% female and 51.1% male) were enrolled in 2022. They were aged between 18 and 63 yr old, apparently healthy, and were from Bogota, Colombia. It was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. To determine the seven variables of the hand, the posture recommended by the ASHT was followed.

Results: Men had significantly higher HGS than women. The dominant hand represents 94.6% of females and 90.5% of males. However, dominance does not have a negative impact on gender when it is analyzed alone. The use of predictive models with cubic regressions permitted us to establish significant variables such as gender and hand width for the right hand and gender, age, hand thickness, and maximum palmar length for the left hand.

Conclusion: The predictive models, the HGS relationship and the dimensions of the hand are evidenced, but in future studies it will be necessary to include the arm, forearm, and wrist sections to the methodology.