SENSITIVITY OF THE JAMAR DYNAMOMETER IN DETECTING SUBMAXIMAL GRIP EFFORT

Twenty-two people with no extremity disability were tested in a standa rd fashion using the Jamar Dynamometer to establish their maximum grip strength. Each participant was asked to grip first right-handed then left-handed three consecutive times. The directions were re-explained so that each participant would give a consistent, less than optimal ef fort; three trials right and three trials left were recorded, The stan dard deviations of each set of these trials were calculated for both r ight and left hands. These standard deviations were then tabulated as scores for 44 trials of 22 patients, both hands, for maximal and subma ximal efforts, These scores were then compared, maximal versus submaxi mal, using a paired t-test, We found no statistical difference in the two groups in comparing the variability of results, Therefore, the cur rent protocol for Jamar testing can allow a patient to make a consiste ntly submaximal effort, resulting in a false apparent loss of grip str ength.