Maximal power grasp force as a function of wrist position, age and glove type. A pilot study

In many industries, environmental and/or safety considerations require the use of gloves. In an effort to quantify the effects of gloves on physical capabilities; wrist position, glove type, age, gender, and dominant/non-dominant hand differences were examined. Power grasp force was used as the dependent measure of physical capabilities. Task design that requires less grasp muscle effort and neutral wrist postures are assumed to be less likely to cause CTDs. Six glove types: bare hand, thermal, knit, reinforced knit, a layered combination of thermal and knit, and a layered combination of thermal and reinforced knit were used as the independent variables. Subjects were selected from three age categories (20-25, 40-45, and 60-65). For each force exertion condition, one of four wrist positions were employed: neutral, 45° extension, 45° flexion, and 65° flexion. Five subjects within each age-gender category were tested giving a total of 30 subjects. Each subject was asked to build up to his or her maximal voluntary contraction using the Caldwell regimen. Results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with significant effects (gender, handedness, glove type, wrist position, and various interactions) tested using post hoc analysis.