Effects of elbow and shoulder joints angle variation on grip strength of apparently healthy undergraduates in a Nigerian institution

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of elbow and shoulder joints angle variations on the grip strength in apparently healthy undergraduates of a Nigerian University. A total of 400 undergraduates of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Nigeria were recruited for the study. A universal goniometer was used to measure the angles of left and right elbow and shoulder joints. Participants was asked to perform maximum grip strength with the shoulder and elbow in each of the following angles while on sitting: 0^o, 90^o and 180^o of shoulder flexion with elbow flexed at 90^o and fully extended. The grip strength was measured with hand grip dynamometer (Wo Li Bao). Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at 0.05.
Result showed that grip strength was significantly strongest at 0^o shoulder flexion, elbow at 90^o for right hand (F= 25.30 p < 0.001) and left (F= 15.12, p < 0.001). Also grip strength was found strongest at 0⁰ shoulder flexion elbow fully extended for right (F = 7.83 p < 0.001) and left (F= 14. 89 p < 0.001). Male grip strength was found significantly (p < 0.001) stronger than female in all angle variations and right hand was found significantly (p< 0.001) stronger than the left in all angle variations.
It can be concluded from the study that grip strength will be at the best in sitting position when shoulder joint was at 0^o elbow at 90^o or fully extended.

Key words:

grip strength, elbow, shoulder, goniometer