Is There A Correlation Between the Grip Strength and the Interosseous Muscles/Intermetacarpal Fat Pads of the Hand?: An Ultrasonographic Study

Objective: To investigate the correlation of the grip strength with sonographic measurement of interosseous muscles (IM) and the intermetacarpal fat pads (IMFP) of the hand. Material and Methods: A total of 40 healthy volunteers (mean age: 39±12 years, all female) were examined. Hand strength was assessed by the Jamar hand dynamometer. IM and IMFP thickness and width for both hands (n:80) were measured sonographically at four levels (1th, 2nd, 3rd and 4th intermeta- carpal; palmar side for IM) and at three levels (2nd, 3rd and 4th intermetacarpal; dorsal side for IMFP). Results: The mean grip strength was 40±12 pounds (range: 20-67). Mean values (thickness x width) for IM were 20.7±2.1×9.9±1.2 mm, 9.0±1×10.3±0.9 mm, 7.3±1.0×9.9±1.0 mm, 8.5±1×9.5±0.9 mm at four levels, respectively. Mean values (thickness x width) for IMFP were 9.9±1.2×5.3±0.7 mm, 8.5±0.9×5.4±0.7 mm and 9.0±1.2×4.7±0.7 mm at three levels, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the grip strength and the dimen- sions of IM and IMFP (p 0.05). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the correlation of grip strength and the sonographic IM-IMFP measurements. Further research in study groups affected by clinical situations involving the hand, is necessary to reveal the role of IM and IMFP studies in evaluating the pathologies.