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Get A Grip: Grip Strength Training


Chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez discusses the fundamental concepts of grip strength training and the benefits of improving grip strength – both for improving athletic performance and also developing proximal shoulder strength.

In the context of athletic performance, grip strength is a fundamental prerequisite in many sports that require aggressive ‘crushing grip’ type movements. The obvious sports that require grip strength are powerlifting (deadlifts) and all the Olympic lifts. Cross fit athletes are exposed to workouts that heavily utilize grip strength in the execution of some of the movements. Sports such as rugby and American football require grip strength in the grappling and tackling of opponents. Many combat sports such as MMA, Brazilian JuJitsu (BJJ), Judo and Wrestling also need above average levels of grip strength. Finally, climbing sports and gymnastics movements also require large levels of grip strength in different hand positions.

Interestingly, grip strength has been associated with strength in the rotator cuff and proximal shoulder muscles, perpetuating the argument that improved grip strength will lead to better shoulder strength and reduced shoulder pathology. This relationship has been proposed as a result of the requirement of a stable proximal shoulder girdle to enable optimal recruitment of the distal muscles, and the force transmitted along the myofascial pathways(1). This concept has been studied by many researchers and the findings of a few select studies can be summarised as shown in Box 1.



Many researchers have shown alterations in muscle activity patterns around the shoulder in the presence of shoulder dysfunction, with the activity of some shoulder muscles increasing, whereas others decrease when gripping is added to shoulder movements(15-17). Gripping may result in a redistribution of force in the rotator cuff muscles(12). Because co-activation of the proximal and distal arm muscles has been shown to occur during gripping (possibly as a result of the grip motor control command eliciting activity in the proximal shoulder muscles), it is feasible that assessment of grip will give an indication of the activity of the rotator cuff(18).

Muscles Of The Forearm & Hand

There are a host of muscles involved in the execution of a powerful grip. Some of these muscles reside in the forearm (called the extrinsic muscles) and the rest lie within the hand (the intrinsic muscles). It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss in detail all the relevant muscles and the actions they perform. However, a few pertinent points regarding muscle balance needs to be pointed out:

  • The forearm pronators are stronger the than the forearm supinators.

  • The wrist/finger flexors are stronger than the extensors.

  • The thumb flexor and adductors are stronger than the extensor/abductors.

  • Wrist extension strength is heavily utilized in grip actions (primarily a wrist/ finger flexion action). The reason behind this is that the wrist/finger flexors operate with more mechanical efficiency if the wrist is held in slight extension, and then stabilized by the extensors.
Extrinsic flexor compartment

(see Figures 1 and 2)





1. Flexor carpi ulnaris (superficial)

2. Palmaris longus (superficial)

3. Flexor carpi radialis (superficial)

4. Pronator teres (superficial)

5. Flexor digitorum superficialis (intermediate)

6. Flexor digitorum Profundus (deep)

7. Flexor pollicus Longus (deep)

8. Pronator quadratus (deep)

Extrinsic Extensor compartment

(see Figures 3 and 4)





1. Brachioradialis (superficial)

2. Extensor carpi radialis longus (superficial)

3. Extensor carpi radialis brevis (superficial)

4. Extensor digitorum (superficial)

5. Extensor digiti minimi (superficial)

6. Extensor carpi ulnaris (superficial)

7. Anconeus (superficial)

8. Supinator (deep)

9. Abductor pollicus brevis (deep)

10. Extensor pollicus longus (deep)

11. Extensor pollicus brevis (deep)

12. Extensor indicis (deep)

Muscles Of The Thumb

Some of the thumb muscles belong to the extrinsic forearm muscles mentioned above. However the intrinsic muscles include:

Thenar eminence (Figure 5)



1. Opponens pollicus

2. Abductor pollicus brevis

3. Flexor pollicus brevis

Hypothenar eminence (see Figure 6)



1. Flexor digiti minimi brevis

2. Abductor digiti minimi

3. Opponens digiti minimi

Finally, in the hand we also have:

1. Four lumbrical muscles

2. The dorsal and palmar interossei

3. Adductor pollicus

4. Palmaris brevis

Measuring Grip Strength

Grip strength can be measured using a handheld dynamometer (see Figure 7). A typical protocol is to measure 5-second maximal contractions with the arm in three different positions: neutral, 90° abduction, and 90° abduction with 90° external rotation. The wrist is kept in neutral and the elbow at 90° flexion in all positions. Subjects should stand with the feet approximately shoulder width apart, with a wall behind to add stability and to prevent trunk rotation, and help maintain arm position. Usually three measurements are taken and the average of the three is used. Pinch strength (Figure 7) is measured with a pinch meter and is a measure of individual finger to thumb strength usually measured with the fingers in relative extension.

Improving Grip Strength

There are numerous types of grip positions that we can use when training. The most common grip is a cylindrical grip (which is part of the power grip series). A cylindrical grip is where you clasp your hands around a barbell or a dumbbell to a point where the first pad of the thumb can be placed over the index and ring finger. This is the most common grip variation in typical strength training using standard barbells and dumbbells.

Common ways to develop this cylindrical grip strength are exercises such as:

  • Deadlift holds

  • Milk can carries (strongman exercise)

  • Hanging chin up with a closed grip (thumb opposing the index finger)

  • Towel chin ups with a hold
The problem with this grip is that while it can build a lot of strength, sometimes this strength doesn’t cross over into other positions/environments where grip is required.

Battling Ropes

The ‘battling ropes’ is an effective training tool to develop grip strength, primarily through the strongman pulling exercises performed across all three planes of motion (see Figures 8-15). Additionally, the different grip positions affect the way grip strength is developed – ie neutral grip and the classical overhand or pronated grip.

There are numerous muscles involved in movement of the forearm and hand (see above), with many of these involved in gripping activities like strongman pulls. Other positive crossovers relate to how strongman pulls can help facilitate stronger lifts – eg barbell deadlifts and pull-ups, where often it is the grip muscles that fail before the (larger) target muscles. There are also benefits for recreational activities like rock climbing, wrestling, tennis, and golf, all of which need strong flexor muscles whilst also maintaining good stability of the extensor muscles.

Developing grip in training can produce massive benefits in everyday life and sport. For example, shaking somebody’s hand you may notice that the power in the grip is predominantly from the thumb, index and middle finger. You may not notice that the ring and pinky finger don’t do too much work at all. In this scenario, we find someone is more prone to radial deviation (where the thumb is brought towards the inside of the elbow). This can lead to dysfunctions such as medial epicondylitis.

Powerbags & The Hook Grip

When power bags are used in training, the benefit is the strap that can be used to grip in all a ‘hook’ grip (Figure 14). This has a huge impact on the flexor digitorum muscles in the forearm. When the pollicis muscles/ tendons (or the muscles involved with the thumb) are omitted from the grip action, there is greater variability as to how the upper arm and shoulder joint is utilised.

Other Grips

  • Spherical grip – this is similar to a cylindrical grip but the object is thicker, so the thumb cannot reach the index and middle finger. With this grip, the whole kinetic chain from fingers through to the shoulder changes, and many people will feel much weaker.

  • Lateral prehesion grip – an example of this is the use of Kettlebells, where the bell is held overhead with open hand positions (Figure 15). In this grip, the adductor pollicis muscle of the thumb is drawn in towards the index finger, creating tension to keep that kettlebell in position. This grip position can also be seen can be seen in the overhead position in the kettlebell snatch and also in the starting position when performing the ‘Turkish get up’ exercise.

Pinch Grip Strength

Pinch grip positions usually involve the fingers being kept in some degree of extension (straight fingers). The muscles used in this grip sequence usually eliminate the strong extrinsic finger flexors, and require more intrinsic muscle action such as the lumbricals. Due the extension of the fingers in these positions, the strong finger flexors need a position of active tension to effectively work. Therefore, it is common to see this grip posture involving 10-20 degrees of wrist extension. The wrist extensor muscles are therefore utilised to hold this wrist extensor position. A classic way to develop this pinch grip is by performing a ‘plate pinch’(see Figure 16) for a specified time. The variations to a ‘plate pinch’ are;



1. Number of plates to make a thicker plate or thinner plate.

2. Holding the plates by the side or in front. This will change scapular stability posture.

3. Plates with ridges vs smooth plates (changes the coefficient of friction).

Summary

Grip strength is not only a fundamental component of successful skill execution and performances of strength ‘feats’ in sport, it is also linked to rotator cuff and shoulder pathologies. Therefore, actively training grip strength components can help as part of a strength and conditioning program – as well as in rehabilitation programs.

There are a host of muscles that contribute to a strong and powerful grip. Overall strength can be easily measured with commercial grip and pinch strength dynamometers. Many alternative methods of grip strength training exist such as barbells, dumbbells, Kettlebells, Ropes and plates.


References

1. J Appl Physiol 2003; 94: 1092–107.

2. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2011; 21: 478–82.

3. Age Ageing 1994; 23: 132–7. 18.

4. Arch Phys Med Rehab 1991; 72: 280–3.

5. J Body Mov Ther 2012; 16: 275–80.

6. J Body Move Ther 2010; 14: 19–26.

7. J Hand Ther 2005; 18: 387–8.

8. J Hand Surg 2004; 29: 1154–9.

9. Eur J Appl Physiol 1995; 71: 485–92.

10. Acta Orthop Scand 1996; 67: 485–90.

11. Orthop Res 1999; 17: 546–53.

12. J Electormyog Kinesiol 2009; 17: 578–86.

13. Eur Sci J 2014; 36: 290–301.

14. Shoulder & Elbow 2016, Vol. 8(2) 124–129

15. Br J Sports Med 2009; 44: 333–40.

16. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2008; 17(1 Suppl): 87S–92S.

17. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2005; 14: 32–8.

18. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012; 22: 186–90.

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The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to contact us. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*