| Building 'Super' Hands - Science Insider
Reported December 2009
TYPES OF HAND GRIP STRENGTH: There are several kinds of grip strength. A firm handshake, for example, is a form of crushing strength, while the ability to exert crushing strength on something and sustain it over time is an example of supporting grip strength. Pinch grip strength is the ability to grasp and lift an object between your thumb and fingers, and relies heavily on the strength of the thumb.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Scientific studies disagree about what grip strength shows about a person's health. One study conducted by the Boston University Arthritis Center found that men with a strong grip were more likely to develop arthritis in certain joints of their hands and fingers. Another study conducted by the Honolulu Heart Program found that low grip strength could be an indicator for disability later in life.
ABOUT CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a pressure buildup in the carpal tunnel that affects the circulation nourishing the nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness and tingling. Although carpal tunnel is a well-known condition, the specific cause is unknown. While rest, exercise and some medications can treat carpal tunnel, severe carpal tunnel syndrome usually requires surgery to release the pressure buildup. Why does the pressure increase? Healthy tissue looks like puffed pastry, many multiple layers with air in between, and these different layers slide on top of each other. But in carpal tunnel, the tissue lining around the tendon becomes thickened, or gummed up, preventing the natural sliding motion of the tissue layers.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.-USA, and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Gloria Gogola
Orthopedic Surgery
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Houston, TX
(713) 793-3780
Naveen Yadavy
Bioengineering Student
Naveen.Yadav@rice.edu
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
IEEE
Pender McCarter
IEEE http://www.ieee.org
IEEE-USA http://www.ieeeusa.org
p.mccarter@ieee.org
Lois Smith
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Santa Monica, CA 90406
(310) 394-1811
http://www.hfes.org
lois@hfes.org
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