Whether as part of the rehabilitation or job applicant and evaluation process, when performing grip strength testing for overall strength, the practitioner needs accurate results that can be easily replicated. In addition to using universally accepted testing protocols when performing grip strength tests and evaluations, it’s also important to have a trustworthy testing device. With the use of hydraulic handheld dynamometer, practitioners and evaluators alike can perform hand strength testing efficiently and effectively. One of the most universally accepted and scientifically approved handheld dynamometers is the Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer, which provides both accuracy and repeatable results.

The Jamar hydraulic handheld dynamometer is the gold-standard in grip strength testing equipment. Not only does it provide precise results, but the outcomes can be easily verified and repeated. This is important in both therapeutic clinics looking to establish baselines of strength and track progress as well as job settings looking to evaluate for job ability and skill.

Reliability of Jamar Hydraulic Grip Testing Dynamometers

Because of its reliability in providing results, the Jamar hand dynamometer was used as part of a group of studies measuring hand strength across a lifespan. The group of 12 studies were published in the PLoS One Journal, a peer-reviewed open access journal attempted to show that weaker grip strength in later life is associated with disability, morbidity, and mortality. The published findings combined 60,803 observations from 49,964 participants (26,687 female) of 12 general population studies in Great Britain. Out of these 12 studies, 7 used the Jamar Hydraulic grip dynamometer to perform the grip strength testing.

With the use of the Jamar dynamometer, scientists were able to pinpoint 3 distinct periods for strength: an increase to peak in early adult life, maintenance through to midlife, and decline from midlife onwards. Not only that, but repeatable results showed that males were on average stronger than females beginning in adolescence onward. For example, males’ peak median grip was 51 kg between ages 29 and 39 and females peak median grip was 31 kg between ages 26 and 42. Additionally, study results showed that weak grip strength increased sharply with age, reaching a decrease in strength by at least 23% in males and 27% in females by age 80. With the breadth of these types of studies, with varied participants of diverse strengths, it is significant that the Jamar dynamometer was chosen as the strength testing device for most of these studies. In addition to being accurate and efficient, the fact that the Jamar dynamometer is easy to use definitely played a role in making it the grip strength tool of choice for the majority of these studies.

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As well as being the measurement tool of choice for practitioners working within the rehabilitative community, the Jamar hand dynamometer has been used successfully in studies looking to establish universal testing protocols to ensure accuracy of strength testing results. One of the options most handheld dynamometers offer is the ability to use different hand grip positions. Because accuracy is so important in both rehabilitation and professional capacities, a study published in the Journal of Hand Surgery evaluated the importance of different hand grip positions on the measured grip strength and the ability to achieve maximum strength. The study found that the grip strength results using the Jamar dynamometer is easier and faster if a single, standard handle position is used when testing a subject rather than testing using multiple different handle positions. With the use of a single handle position there is a reduction in a subject’s fatigue. Not only that, but with the use of single, standard handle position, it’s possible to compare the results between testing subjects to get a reliable average and fair comparison.

Owing to the reliability of the Jamar Hand dynamometer, it became the instrument of choice for another study published in the PLoS One Journal which investigated grip strength in a large sample of people with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of the study was to establish reference values for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) which can be used as a baseline reference for the medical community and be used for comparison to adults without intellectual disability.

Measuring handgrip strength is important for many reasons, including:

1. Grip strength is the easiest way to assess overall strength
2. Using grip strength is the simplest way to assess and compare muscle function across populations
3. Indicates overall upper extremity muscle strength and correlates with lower extremity strength and power
4. Can be used to assess frailty for hospital admission
5. Can be used to evaluate progression of wasting conditions, like sarcopenia
6. Valid screening tool for overall fitness
7. Identify potential deficits
8. Track progress through rehabilitation

With the results of the study, which evaluated grip strength in a large sample of people with intellectual disabilities, it established reference values for adults with intellectual disabilities across age and gender, something that was lacking in the rehabilitative community.

The Benefits of the Jamar Hand Dynamometer

The Jamar Hand dynamometer remains a great choice for scientific studies because it’s durable and reliable. Time and again, the Jamar dynamometer provides practitioners with accurate grip strength test results that can be simply and efficiently replicated. From the beginning of treatment when establishing a baseline and for the duration of treatment when tracking progress, the Jamar hydraulic dynamometer remains one of the best grip strength testing devices on the market today.

The main benefits of the Jamar hand dynamometer include:

• With adjustable 5-position handle and a maximum strength indicator that remains after each reading until reset, the Jamar handheld dynamometer offers practitioners many options for performing grip strength testing, which increases the reliability of results.
• Easily measures isometric grip force and strength to establish a baseline and to track increases in rehabilitation and physical therapy programs.
• Ideal for routine screening of grip strength for job task applicants or evaluations as well as initial and ongoing evaluations of hand trauma and dysfunction in rehabilitation.
• The adjustable handle makes it easy for practitioners to test different sized objects and accommodates small and large hands.
• The dynamometer was designed with a peak hold needle that retains highest reading until reset which makes it easy to chart test results.
• Unit comes with a certificate of calibration and one-year warranty.

The Jamar hand dynamometer remains one of the medical industry’s top choice for grip strength testing because it supplies reliable and efficient results for diverse patient populations. From medical studies and rehabilitation to job task testing and evaluation, look no further than the Jamar hydraulic dynamometer for grip strength results you can trust. 

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