Força de preensão, lateralidade, sexo e características antropométricas da mão de crinças em idade escolar

The aims of this study were to identify to the anthropometric characteristics of the hands of children of both sexes with age ranging from 7 to 14 years and to measure the maximum grip strength through direct measurement, establishing age-, laterality- and sex- reference values for strength. Two measures of the hand were performed with instrument of digital precision for size classification. Maximum grip strength was measured using a electric resistance dynamometer connected to a data acquisition system. Significant differences in hand size were observed between boys and girls aged 7, 8, 11 and 14 years. Differences in grip strength and laterality were found for females at 7, 8, 9, 13 and 14 years of age and for males from 7 to 11 years of age. The relationship between grip strength and sex was greater for males and presented significant differences among pubertal stages. Hand size as well as grip strength evolved according to age among subjects of this study, with greater differences in both sexes being observed during sexual maturation.