Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

<b>Background/objective:</b> Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are recognized to experience challenges with muscle function. However, there is a lack of knowledge about muscle and hand grip strength in autism. Therefore, the study aims to assess the handgrip and pinch strengt...

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Main Authors: Olfat Ibrahim Ali, Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak, Malak Mohammed Tarshi, Manar Marji, Shmookh Turki Aljohani, Maryam Nayef Badawood, Mawda Mohammed Bamusallam, Khawla Alharbi, Zizi M. Ibrahim, Bodor Bin Sheeha, Wafaa Mahmoud Amin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/320
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author Olfat Ibrahim Ali
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak
Malak Mohammed Tarshi
Manar Marji
Shmookh Turki Aljohani
Maryam Nayef Badawood
Mawda Mohammed Bamusallam
Khawla Alharbi
Zizi M. Ibrahim
Bodor Bin Sheeha
Wafaa Mahmoud Amin
author_facet Olfat Ibrahim Ali
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak
Malak Mohammed Tarshi
Manar Marji
Shmookh Turki Aljohani
Maryam Nayef Badawood
Mawda Mohammed Bamusallam
Khawla Alharbi
Zizi M. Ibrahim
Bodor Bin Sheeha
Wafaa Mahmoud Amin
author_sort Olfat Ibrahim Ali
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/objective:</b> Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are recognized to experience challenges with muscle function. However, there is a lack of knowledge about muscle and hand grip strength in autism. Therefore, the study aims to assess the handgrip and pinch strength of ASD and typical children. <b>Material and method:</b> This study enrolled 45 participants of both sexes, 27 males and 18 females, aged 6–12 years old; 24 (13 females and 11 males) were typically developing children and 21 (5 females and 16 males) had ASD. The outcome measures were hand grip and pinch strength, with the handheld dynamometer assessing handgrip strength and the hydraulic pinch gauge evaluating pinch grip. The hydraulic pinch gauge measured the pinch strengths of the key, tripod, and pulp grips. Both groups were assessed on both their dominant and non-dominant sides. <b>Result:</b> A comparison of the ASD group with the control group revealed that children with ASD exhibited lower values of the hand grip, key pinch, tripod pinch, and pulp pinch strengths for both hands (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> The hand and pinch strengths of ASD children are lower than those of typically developing children. Therefore, the evaluation process for children with ASD should include hand and pinch strengths as a standard component. Furthermore, the rehabilitation program for ASD should prioritize enhancing hand strength.
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spelling doaj-art-fec00bdddaf54cb0ab38c6200a47e3d52025-08-20T02:11:25ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-03-0112332010.3390/children12030320Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional StudyOlfat Ibrahim Ali0Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak1Malak Mohammed Tarshi2Manar Marji3Shmookh Turki Aljohani4Maryam Nayef Badawood5Mawda Mohammed Bamusallam6Khawla Alharbi7Zizi M. Ibrahim8Bodor Bin Sheeha9Wafaa Mahmoud Amin10Physical Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaOccupational Therapy Program, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah 21442, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaBasic Science for Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt<b>Background/objective:</b> Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are recognized to experience challenges with muscle function. However, there is a lack of knowledge about muscle and hand grip strength in autism. Therefore, the study aims to assess the handgrip and pinch strength of ASD and typical children. <b>Material and method:</b> This study enrolled 45 participants of both sexes, 27 males and 18 females, aged 6–12 years old; 24 (13 females and 11 males) were typically developing children and 21 (5 females and 16 males) had ASD. The outcome measures were hand grip and pinch strength, with the handheld dynamometer assessing handgrip strength and the hydraulic pinch gauge evaluating pinch grip. The hydraulic pinch gauge measured the pinch strengths of the key, tripod, and pulp grips. Both groups were assessed on both their dominant and non-dominant sides. <b>Result:</b> A comparison of the ASD group with the control group revealed that children with ASD exhibited lower values of the hand grip, key pinch, tripod pinch, and pulp pinch strengths for both hands (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> The hand and pinch strengths of ASD children are lower than those of typically developing children. Therefore, the evaluation process for children with ASD should include hand and pinch strengths as a standard component. Furthermore, the rehabilitation program for ASD should prioritize enhancing hand strength.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/320autismhand strengthpinch strengthhandheld dynamometerpinch gauge
spellingShingle Olfat Ibrahim Ali
Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak
Malak Mohammed Tarshi
Manar Marji
Shmookh Turki Aljohani
Maryam Nayef Badawood
Mawda Mohammed Bamusallam
Khawla Alharbi
Zizi M. Ibrahim
Bodor Bin Sheeha
Wafaa Mahmoud Amin
Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
Children
autism
hand strength
pinch strength
handheld dynamometer
pinch gauge
title Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Assessment of Hand Grip and Pinch Strengths in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort assessment of hand grip and pinch strengths in children with autism spectrum disorders a cross sectional study
topic autism
hand strength
pinch strength
handheld dynamometer
pinch gauge
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/3/320
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