Compare grip strength with age and sex norms
Enter the highest grip strength reading from a dynamometer; see the centile band for age and sex, an approximate z-score and a T-score against the young-adult peak.
Measurement
Ages 4–100; reference data cover ages 5–90.
Norms are based on the highest value across trials.
If entered, the side-to-side difference is shown and the higher value is compared with the norms.
Result
Select sex and enter age and grip strength.
A reference comparison
Reference data come from British population studies (Jamar-type dynamometers, maximum of trials). Values vary with protocol, device and population; the z-score is approximate. The result is not a diagnosis.
Source: Dodds RM, Syddall HE, Cooper R, et al. Grip strength across the life course: normative data from twelve British studies. PLoS One. 2014;9(12):e113637. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113637 (CC BY 4.0)
Who are you?
Run this measurement automatically from a scan in your clinic
In a 30-minute demo we'll show the same calculation on a 3D scan, with your own case. Your result is added to the form automatically.
Result added to the form
No calculated result yet — you can still send the form.
Frequently asked questions
What is normal grip strength by age and sex?
Grip strength rises through childhood and adolescence, peaks in early adulthood and then declines with age. In the Dodds 2014 data, pooled from twelve British studies, the peak median is about 51 kg in men and about 31 kg in women in their 30s; at age 60, for example, the median is around 45 kg in men and 27 kg in women.
How is grip strength measured?
A Jamar-type hand-held dynamometer is usually used. The person sits with the shoulder by the side, the elbow flexed at about 90° and the forearm in neutral. Several trials are made with each hand and the highest value is recorded. When comparing with norms, the measurement protocol should be similar to that of the reference study.
What counts as low grip strength?
Dodds 2014 defines low grip strength as 2.5 or more standard deviations below the young-adult peak mean (T-score ≤ −2.5). This corresponds to about 27 kg in men and about 16 kg in women. Other guidelines may use different cut-offs.
Why does grip strength matter in hand therapy and splinting?
Grip strength is a simple, repeatable measure for tracking recovery over time after a hand injury or surgery and for comparing the affected hand with the unaffected one. It does not decide anything on its own; it is interpreted together with range of motion, pain and functional assessment.