Effect of Elbow Flexors Fatigue on Hand Grip Strength in Physiotherapy Students

Background: Hand grip strength (HGS) is a crucial indicator of overall health and functional capacity, reflecting the combined force generated by the muscles of the hand. For physiotherapy students, strong HGS is essential for performing manual therapy and exercise therapy techniques. Muscle fatigue can adversely affect HGS by diminishing the muscle's force-generating capacity. Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of elbow flexor fatigue on hand grip strength among physiotherapy students. Materials and Methods: The study involved 35 adult, non-athletic physiotherapy students aged 18-25 years with a normal BMI (18.5 - 24.99 kg/m²). Participants were required to have a dominant right hand and were recruited based on specific inclusion criteria, ensuring no history of musculoskeletal disorders that could affect upper limb function. Elbow flexor fatigue was induced using a Biodex isokinetic dynamometry system through repeated elbow flexion exercises until a predetermined level of fatigue was reached. Hand grip strength was assessed pre- and post-fatigue using a Jamar hydraulic dynamometer, with three trials conducted for accuracy. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests to evaluate the hypothesis that elbow flexor fatigue does not significantly affect hand grip strength.Results: The results indicated a significant reduction in hand grip strength following elbow flexor fatigue among physiotherapy students, with an average decrease of approximately 15% in grip strength post-fatigue compared to pre-fatigue measurements.Conclusion: The findings highlight that elbow flexor fatigue significantly reduces hand grip strength in physiotherapy students.