HERS 380 Laboratory Methods in Exercise Science

Isometric Handgrip Strength Test

In order to help you gain experience as a technician, you will be required to test three people. Your subjects should all perform 3 legal trials for each hand. Record scores for all people that you test. Record your own scores also, using data collected by one of your classmates. You will need one data sheet.

In order to answer the discussion questions, you will also need the weight, age, gender, training activities, and dominant hand of each subject.

Determine and present the following in table format:

• Combined grip sum - Use the high score for the right hand and the high score for the left hand for this sum

• Category (percentile) for absolute maximum grip (Use Table 5.2)

• Relative combined grip sum (kg•kg-1wt)

• Category (percentile) for relative combined grip sum(Use Table 5.2)

Remember that in addition to the above you must include a few sentences summarizing your major results. You should also refer you reader to where your tables and graphs may be found.

Discussion questions:

Remember that these must be answered as you “discuss” the results of your data collection. Use a separate paragraph to answet each of th ebullet items listed below. In order for you to answer these completely you will need to use outside sources. Your text is a nice place to start, but other sources may be helpful also.

• Were the high scores for grip strength significantly different for right and left hands for any subjects? If so, for which subjects did you see differences and for which did you not see differences? How much were the differences? Which hand had the greater value? Discuss what could cause this difference in strength between hands?

• Were the combined grip sums as expected for the subjects? Did some score higher or lower than expected? If so, why? Explain. Your expectations should be based on information you know about each subject such as age, health status, and specific training activities. It might be helpful to rank the scores of subjects. Does their rankings within the group surprise you based on what you learned about each subject in your pre-trial interview? Explain.

• Were the absolute maximum grip percentiles as expected for the subjects? Did some score higher or lower than expected? If so, why? Explain. Your expectations should be based on information you know about each subject such as age, health status, and specific training activities.

• Were the relative combined grip sums as expected for the subjects? Did some subjects rankings within the group change? If so, why? Explain. Your expectations should be based on information you know about each subject such as age, health status, and specific training activities. It might be helpful to rank the scores of subjects again. Does this surprise you based on what you learned about each subject in your pre-trial interview?

• Were the relative combined grip sum percentiles as expected for the subjects? Did some subjects rankings change from those for the combined grip sum? If so, why? Explain.

• What practical (everyday) applications(Yes, that is plural meaning more than one) might this measure have? Explain.

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