§ 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

Men (age 20-29): >54 kg excellent, 47-54 good, 36-46 average, <36 below average. Women (age 20-29): >36 kg excellent, 30-36 good, 22-29 average, <22 below average. Declines with age.

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.