MAXIMUM ISOMETRIC TENSION IN DOMINANT AND NON-DOMINANT HAND BY HAND-GRIP DYNAMOMETRY

Maximum isometric tension is an indicator of handgrip strength which in turn predicts overall physical fitness. Handedness and gender affect handgrip strength to varying degrees. This study was done with the aim of finding the grip strength difference between dominant and non-dominant hand in sedentary subjects and to find whether handedness and gender influence handgrip strength. Hand grip strength was measured using Handgrip Dynamometer in 40 males ( 33 right handed and 7 left handed) and 40 females ( 34 right handed and 6 left handed ) . The results were analyzed using Student's t test. Statistically significant difference was found in handgrip strength between dominant and non-dominant hand in both right handed and left handed males and females(P 0.05). Right handed subjects recorded higher mean values in both their dominant and non-dominant hand compared to left handed subjects. Both right handed and left handed males showed highly significant difference in handgrip strength in both dominant and non-dominant hand when compared with females(P 0.05). The percentage difference in handgrip strength between dominant and non-dominant hand varied from 7.89 to 16.52 in the present study, when gender and handedness were considered in the analysis. This proves that handedness and gender influence handgrip strength to varying degrees.