Handgrip, Pinch Grip, And Reaction Time Of Firefighters And Police Officers

Handgrip strength (HGS), pinch grip strength (PGS), and quick, accurate reactions are crucial forhand function and perceptual-motor abilities. Firefighters (FF) and police officers (PO) frequently engage in high-intensity tasks requiring these skills. However, it remains unclear whether FFs and POs differ in these measures or if grip strength relates to reaction time (RT). PURPOSE: This study examined differences in bimanual HGS, PGS, and dominant hand RT between FF and PO in the southwestern and relationships between grip strength measures and RT. METHODS: Two hundred five participants (128 FF; age = 35.46 ± 7.85 years; stature = 178.0 ± 0.09 cm; mass = 95.18 ± 16.57 kg) and (77 PO; age = 31.08 ± 8.22 years; stature = 176.0 ± 0.08 cm; mass = 84.9 ± 14.86 kg) volunteered, with no recent hand injuries or diseases. HGS was measured using a hand dynamometer. Tip, key, and palmar PGS were measured using a pinch gauge dynamometer. Participants performed three consecutive isometric maximal voluntary contractions (3 - 5 secs) to assess HGS and PGS of both hands with a minute rest period. Visual RT was assessed using an online test, where participants responded to a screen change from red to green at varying intervals across five trials; the average time was retained for analysis. Independent samples t-tests assess between-group differences in these measures. Pearson’s bivariate correlations were used to determine within-group associations between bimanual HGS, key, palmar, tip PGS, and RT separately for FF and PO. Significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: FF had greater (p < .001)bimanual HGS, palmar PGS, tip PGS, and shorter RT compared to PO. No significant correlations (p = .054 - .960) were found between HGS, PGS, and RT within FF. However, weak negative correlations were observed between RT and HGS, key PGS, and palmar PGS in PO (p ≤ .006). A strong positive correlation existed between bimanual HGS and key, palmar, and tip PGS within both groups (p < .001 for FF, p < .001 for PO). CONCLUSION: In PO, bimanual HGS, key, and parallel PGS are related to RT, potentially due to frequent firearm practice. FF exhibited higher PGS and shorter RT than PO, likely reflecting occupational differences, such as greater access to tasks involving heavy manual material handling and frequent exposure to dynamic environments requiring rapid responses.