Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 2-6, 2009

Isometric Grip Strength and Endurance of Patients With Cervical Spondylosis and Healthy Controls: A Comparative Study

  • Michael O. Egwu, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests and correspondence to: Dr M.O. Egwu, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
    • ,
  • Benjamin A. Ajao, BMR (PT)

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
    • ,
  • Chidozie E. Mbada, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
    • ,
  • Isaac O. Adeoshun, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Received 11 June 2008; accepted 29 December 2009.

Article Outline

Abstract 

This study compared the grip strength (GS) and grip endurance (GE) of patients with cervical spondylosis (CS) with those of healthy controls and determined the effect of hand dominance on these variables. Forty subjects (20 with CS and 20 controls; age range, 27–70 years; mean age, 47.5 ± 13.9 years) participated in this study. Sitting on an armless chair of standard height, the subject's test arm was held at 90° elbow flexed with the forearm in neutral position; subjects squeezed a dynamometer maximally (GS) and held it until the contact force output could not be maintained (GE) while being timed with a stop watch. Patients with CS had significantly lower GS (p < 0.05) and GE (p < 0.001) than the controls in both dominant and non-dominant hands. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the GS and GE of the dominant and non-dominant hands in patients with CS and controls. GS and GE are lower in CS patients than in controls but are similar in the dominant and non-dominant hands in both groups, suggesting that limb dominance does not affect GS and GE.

Key words:  cervical spondylosis , degenerative changes , grip endurance , grip strength , hand dominance

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PII: S1013-7025(10)70002-6

doi:10.1016/S1013-7025(10)70002-6

Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal
Volume 27, Issue 1 , Pages 2-6, 2009

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