Validation of Hand Grip Strength Protocol: A Pilot Study Among Venezuelan Workers

Introduction: Hands, as fundamental work tools, require protective equipment that meets ergonomic criteria. In Venezuela, there are no databases on grip strength in working populations, which limits the assessment of physical fitness and occupational performance of workers. Method: Quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional study. Grip strength was evaluated using dynamometry in 60 workers (30 men, 30 women) from a food company in Aragua, Venezuela. Three measurements were taken by two different evaluators, and intra- and inter-rater reliability was analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results: Intra-rater reliability showed an ICC of 0.958 for single measures and 0.986 for average measures. Inter-rater reliability presented an ICC of 0.971 for single measures and 0.986 for average measures. Test-retest analysis revealed an ICC of 0.945 for single measures and 0.972 for average measures. A sample size of 176 participants was determined for a larger-scale study. Conclusions: The measurement protocol demonstrated excellent reliability both intra- and inter-rater, as well as temporal stability. The results validate the methodology for generating normative data on grip strength in Venezuelan workers.