Handgrip Strength Cutoff Points for Functional Independence and Wheelchair Ability in Men With Spinal Cord Injury

This study aimed to find out how strong someone's handgrip needs to be for them to be able to do things on their own and use a wheelchair well if they are a man with a spinal cord injury. The researchers measured the handgrip strength of 54 men with spinal cord injuries and then looked at how well they could perform tasks related to daily living and wheelchair use. The study found specific handgrip strength levels that were linked to better performance in these tasks, which could help doctors and therapists set goals for rehabilitation.

• 1
  A handgrip strength of 102.5 kgf was identified as a cutoff point to achieve a score of 70 on the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III).
• 2
  A handgrip strength of 102.5 kgf was needed to achieve a 3-minute overground wheeling distance of 270 m.
• 3
  A handgrip strength cutoff point of 93.0 kgf was necessary to obtain a performance score of 23.7 seconds on the Adapted Manual Wheelchair Circuit (AMWC).