Muscular Strength

Handgrip dynamometers measure the maximum isometric strength of the hand and forearm muscles. The dynamometer is set to the hand size appropriate for the individual being tested. The individual must be standing, their arm against their side with a 90-degree elbow bend such that their hand will be in front of their body, and the elbow remains at the waist/hip. The individual must then squeeze the dynamometer as hard as possible. The test is administered on the right and left hands twice each, taking the highest score of each hand and adding them together, where the results are measured in kilograms.

To do the squat, the individual must stand under the bar with their feet shoulder-width apart and the knees directly parallel to the toes. They must take the weight/barbell on their shoulders and bend at the knees and hips to lower the body until the knees are at a right angle, then they must push back up to a standing position. The test procedure begins with a warm-up of 5-10 reps using 40%-60% of the individual’s estimated maximum. After a rest period, the load is increased to 60%-80%, attempting to do 3-5 reps. From here on, small increments in weight are added to the load, and a 1-RM is attempted. The goal is to determine the 1-RM in 3 to 5 trials, and the individual is allowed ample rest (3 to 5 minutes) before each trial. The maximum weight lifted is then recorded.