§ 01
Strength
Clinical fitness assessment

Grip Strength

Measure isometric hand and forearm strength — correlates with overall strength and health outcomes.

Equipment

Calibrated hand dynamometer (e.g. Jamar).

The protocol
  1. 01Adjust the dynamometer to a comfortable grip width (position 2 or 3 for most adults).
  2. 02Client stands with arm at their side, elbow slightly bent (~160 degrees).
  3. 03Hold the dynamometer with the dial facing away from the body.
  4. 04On "Go", squeeze with maximum effort for 3-5 seconds.
  5. 05Test both hands, alternating between hands.
  6. 06Perform 3 attempts per hand. Record the best result in kg.
What to watch for
  • Arm moving away from the body or elbow bending excessively.
  • Using body movement or trunk rotation to assist.
  • Not resetting the dynamometer between attempts.
  • Testing only one hand — always test both.
Normative scoring

Best single-hand result on a dynamometer. Men (age 20-29): >57 kg excellent, 45-57 above average, 37-44 average, <37 below average. Women (age 20-29): >41 kg excellent, 33-41 above average, 26-32 average, <26 below average. Declines with age. (Single-hand norms; if you sum both hands, compare against ACSM combined norms instead.)

Run it with GainPT

Run this test with branded client reports.

GainPT scores Grip Strength against published normative data and turns it into a clean, GainPT-branded PDF your client keeps. All 47 clinical tests, unlimited retests — free to start, no card required.