Background: Grip strength is an objective measure of a person's hand functionality and upper limb strength. In Asia, there is a lack of normative data for grip strength among the population, especially in South Korea.
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the grip strength in various body postures and gender in the adult South Korean population.
Methods: A total of 100 male and 64 female subjects participated in this study. Their grip strengths were measured using a standard adjustable Jamar handle dynamometer.
Results: The results showed that their grip strength differed statistically by gender, handedness, and posture. Their gender and right-hand length were the most significant predictors of their grip strength. The Asian population, including South Korea, showed a lower grip strength than the European and American populations in previous studies.
Conclusions: The present study showed that the maximal isometric grip strength is affected by gender, handedness, posture, and population. Thus, gender-, population-, and posture-specific grip strength data are essential for clinical and industrial applications.
Keywords: South Korean population; anthropometry; dynamometer; hand strength; normative data.