Lab: Does gender play a more significant role in grip strength than height?

Previous studies have also shown that gender plays a role in grip strength performance.  One known study done by Balogun, Akomolafe and Amusa (1991) compared the grip strength between men and women while investigating the effects of testing posture and elbow position on grip strength.  Grip strength of men and women were tested under the following conditions (1) sitting with elbows in 90 degree flexion (2) sitting with elbows in full extension, (3) standing with elbows in 90 degree flexion and (4) standing with elbows in full extension.  The results showed that men had significantly higher grip strengths then women in all four testing positions.  The author stated that the differences in grip strength could be attributed to the correlation of grip strength to age, height and weight.

              The effect of gender on grip strength was also examined in the study conducted by Su et. al. (1994) while determining grip strength in different positions of the elbows and shoulders.  Grip strength was measured again in four testing positions (1) 0 degree shoulder flexion with elbow flexed at 90 degrees, (2) 0 degrees shoulder flexion with elbows fully extended, (3) 90 degree shoulder flexion with elbows fully extended, and (4) 180 degree shoulder flexion with elbows fully extended.  The results indicated that men had higher grip strength than women in all four testing conditions.  These authors stated that height and weight play a role in these differences as well as the individual’s level of physical activity.    The greater grip strength in men was therefore due to the fact that they are bigger, heavier and more active.  Other studies have also concluded that men have higher grip strengths then females, such as those studies done by Richards et. al. (1996), Driscoll et. al. (1992) as well as Harkonen et. al (1993) who concluded that females grip strength was 60-70% less then males.