Measuring Grip Strength in Older Adults: Comparing the Grip-ball With the Jamar Dynamometer. Issue 3 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vermeulen, Joan; Neyens, Jacques C. L.; Spreeuwenberg, Marieke D.; van Rossum, Erik; Hewson, David J.; de Witte, Luc P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geriatric physical therapy. Volume 38:Issue 3(2015:Jul./Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: aged -- grip force -- reliability -- telemonitoring -- validity; Physical therapy for older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Orientation and mobility -- Periodicals; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 615.820846
• DOI: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-8412

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Purpose: Decreased grip strength is a predictor of adverse outcomes in older adults. A Grip-ball was developed that can be used for home-based self-monitoring of grip strength to detect decline at an early stage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurements obtained with the Grip-ball in older adults. Methods: Forty nursing home patients and 59 community-dwelling older adults 60 years or older were invited to participate in this study. Grip strength in both hands was measured 3 consecutive times during a single visit using the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer. Test-retest reliability was described using intraclass correlation coefficients. Concurrent validity was evaluated by calculating Pearson correlations between the mean Grip-ball and Jamar dynamometer measurements and between the highest measurements out of 3 trials. Known-groups validity was studied using t tests. Results: Eighty eight participants (33 men) with a mean age of 75 (SD = 6.8) years were included. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the Grip-ball were 0.97 and 0.96 for the left and right hands, respectively ( P < .001), and those for the Jamar dynamometer were 0.97 and 0.98 for the left and right hands, respectively ( P < .001). Pearson correlations between the mean scores of the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer were 0.71 ( P < .001) and 0.76 ( P < .001) for the left and right hands, respectively. Pearson correlations between the highest scores out of 3 trials were 0.69 ( P < .001) and 0.78 ( P < .001) for the left and right hands, respectively. The t tests revealed that both the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer detected grip strength differences between men and women but not between nursing home patients and community-dwelling older adults. Grip-ball measurements did not confirm higher grip strength of the dominant hand whereas the Jamar dynamometer did. Conclusions: The Grip-ball provides reliable grip strength estimates in older adults. Correlations found between the Grip-ball and Jamar dynamometer measurements suggest acceptable concurrent validity. The Grip-ball seems capable of detecting "larger" grip strength differences but might have difficulty detecting "smaller" differences that were detected by the Jamar dynamometer. The Grip-ball could be used in practice to enable home-based self-monitoring of grip strength in older adults. However, for implementation of the Grip-ball as a screening and monitoring device in practice, it is important to gain insight into intersession reliability during home-based use of the Grip-ball and clinical relevance of changes in grip strength.