Synonyms
Grip strength; Hand strength; Strength of grip
Description
The hand dynamometer measures unimanual motor strength (Russell and Starkey 1993) and is manufactured by The Lafayette Instrument Company. The dynamometer apparatus measures grip strength in kilograms of resistance by squeezing an adjustable (for hand size) stirrup. Neuropsychologically, the hand dynamometer is considered as a measure of motor cortex integrity (Swiercinsky 1978). However, it has long been used as a general measure of contralateral cerebral integrity and considered to be a sensitive measure to brain dysfunction (Reitan and Wolfson 1985; Lezak et al. 2004; D’Elia et al. 1996).
The original procedures (Reitan and Wolfson 1985) require examinees to stand holding the adjusted apparatus in their hand gripping the stirrup and extending their arm straight down at their side. Examinees are asked to grip (pull) on the stirrup as hard as possible. Originally, one practice trial was allowed and the average force...
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Russell, E., & Starkey, R. (1993). Halstead-Russell neuropsychological evaluation system (HRNES). Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
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Podell, K. (2018). Hand Dynamometer. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_190
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_190
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Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57111-9
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