The human body is a remarkable machine. It can run marathons, lift heavy weight, and even complete the seemingly impossible task of keeping our heads upright while we walk. But it’s also not perfect—our skeleton is made up of bones that can break, our muscles can tear, and our joints are prone to injury. One part of our body that’s particularly vulnerable? Our hands! As someone who works with their hands all day (and has done so for 18 years), I’m quite familiar with this phenomenon. And while many people think grip strength is just something athletes need or manual laborers rely on daily—it’s actually important for everyone.
What is grip strength?
Grip strength is the ability to hold onto objects. It’s a measure of how much force your hand can exert, and it’s important for everyday activities like lifting or carrying objects, or picking up things off the ground. Grip strength also plays an important role in sports and fitness, where a strong grip can be beneficial for many different types of activity.
Why care about grip strength?
If you want to really understand grip strength and its importance, it’s helpful to look at some of the things that can go wrong when a person doesn’t have good handgrip strength.
Some people find that their grip strength is an indicator of their overall health, as well as a predictor of future conditions like osteoarthritis or cardiovascular disease.
Grip strength can also help you predict your general physical abilities in other areas; if you don’t have much muscle mass in your hands and forearms, chances are you won’t be very strong in other areas either.
For most of the population- without good grip strength, then it will be a real struggle to hold up our own body weight when we get up from a chair, the toilet and for safety gripping of shower bars, handrails, etc.
For those who exercise regularly: if someone has trouble holding up their own body weight during push-ups or pull-ups (like when doing hang cleans), then it probably means they’re not going to be able to deadlift much weight either—even though these exercises train different muscles altogether!
Who can benefit from improving grip strength?
Grip strength is an important indicator of overall health, but it also impacts your quality of life in the following ways:
People who do a lot of manual labor can benefit from improving their grip strength. These include construction workers and farmers, as well as anyone who uses tools on a regular basis.
Athletes in sports like baseball or football can benefit from improving their grip strength. They’ll not only be able to throw harder balls but will also be able to catch them more easily when they come flying at them from all angles!
People with arthritis may find that their hands ache after using them for long periods of time, which can make it difficult for them to carry out tasks such as cooking or cleaning around the house. Improving your grip strength will help reduce this problem by reducing strain on your hands during these activities.
People with diabetes may be at risk for nerve damage if they do not keep up an adequate level of hydration throughout the day.
People with other conditions that affect hand strength such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Every aging adult!
What are the best ways to improve grip strength?
Use tools and fitness gear.
Practice with different grip positions.
Practice with different hand tools.
Practice with different hand grips.
Practice with different hand positions (e.g., pronated, supinated).
Practice with different hand sizes (e.g., small, medium, large).
Practice with different hand weights (e.g., light, heavy).
What are the top grip strengthening exercises?
The best way to increase your grip strength is to choose a few exercises that you can do often and easily. The following exercises are all great ways to improve your grip, as well as build muscle in your arms, shoulders and back:
Crush Grip
Pinch Grip
Support Grip (also known as a deadlift)
Crush Grip
The crush grip is a measure of how much force is required to close your hand around an object. To perform this test, you will need:
A gripper (made of spring steel)
A piece of paper or cardboard
Pinch Grip
Like the other grip tests, you can measure your pinch grip by using a spring scale. Your goal for this test is to be able to hold 20 pounds for 10 seconds with your thumb and forefinger, but that doesn’t mean you can stop at 20 pounds if you pass the test.
The best way to improve pinch strength is by using hand tools such as grippers and holding tools. If you don’t have access to either of these tools, fitness gear like pull-up bars or resistance bands may be useful in improving pinch strength as well.
Support Grip
Support Grip
Examples of Exercises that Use Support Grip
Benefits of Supporting a Weight While You Work Out, and How to Improve Your Support Grip
It’s important to practice multiple kinds of grip to avoid injuries, and to engage with both hand tools and fitness gear.
It’s important to practice multiple kinds of grip to avoid injuries, and to engage with both hand tools and fitness gear. For example, you might use a screwdriver for one project, but then switch over to a hammer for another. This variety can help you stay busy and prevent boredom from setting in.
Hand tools are great for working on projects around the house or in your garage. They’re also great for building strength because they require more effort than many other types of equipment do. Use the hand tool that feels most comfortable in your hands! There are many different types of hand tools available at hardware stores or online at Amazon or Walmart (you may be able to find them cheaper on Amazon). Here are some examples:
Screwdrivers
Hammers
Pliers
Conclusion
Overall, grip strength is a valuable tool to have in your fitness arsenal. If you’re looking to improve your health and fitness, the best thing you can do is focus on improving all of your body parts—not just one or two. A strong grip means a stronger back, shoulders and arms! It also helps avoid injuries caused by overuse or repetitive stressors like typing at work. So take some time today and try out some new exercises that challenge your hands—whether with weights or hand tools like rubber bands (which are great for strengthening without adding bulk).
grip strength exercises physical therapy, types of grip physical therapy, pronated hand grip, sports that require grip strength, how much grip strength to crush a hand, grip strength in pounds, grip strength physical therapy, what muscles affect grip strength, whats a good grip strength in lbs, strong grip strength, how to test grip strength at home, what is a good grip strength, grip strength test without equipment, how to test grip strength without equipment, what is good grip strength for a man, physical therapy grip strength exercises, what is a good grip strength for a man, types of grip strength, importance of grip strength, what is good grip strength, different types of grip strength, what is grip strength, what is a good hand grip strength, measure of the amount of force one can use to hold onto objects strength, strength measure of the amount of force one can use to hold onto objects, how much grip strength to break a hand, how many grip squeezes should i do, what does grip strength do, hand grip therapy, strength of hands, are hand grip exercises good for physical therapy, force a push or a pull
marathonhealth, great neck nassau county process service, physical therapy in great neck ny, reddy care physical therapy great neck, physcial therapy, lymphedema clinic long island, physical therapy holbrook ny, best sports physical therapy great neck, sports therapy, benefits of neck physical therapy nyc, best hip physical therapist near me, physical therapy near me within 0.5 mi, neck physical therapy near me, ready physical therapy, neck physical therapy queens, is physical therapy open on weekends, pt doctor near me, marthon, is a physical therapist a doctor, the body shop physical therapy, neck pain physical therapy queens, marathon health fax number, marathon health, orthopedic physical therapy long island, physicians physical therapy, nysc great neck, therapist great neck, experienced physical therapists nyc, the physical therapy center, marathon physical therapy website, long island physical therapy, physical therapy open on saturday, neck therapist near me, how long is physical therapy session, sport physiotherapist near me, marathon transparent, marathon physical therapy easton, marshfield physical therapy, bardonia physical therapy, marathom, local physical therapy clinics floral park, pt near me now, metro pt great neck, exercise physiotherapist near me, great neck home caregiver, great neck park, neck physical therapy new york, how much does a neubie machine cost, best physical therapy nassau county, physical therapy for runners nyc, electrolysis great neck, mid island physical therapy, physiotherapy, top rated physical therapy near me, physical therapy coram, physical therapy services, marathon pt norwood, great neck accident today, marathon therapist, marathon, shoulder physical therapy near me, physical therapy open saturday, pt runner, sports therapy near me, best rated physical therapy near me, marathon physical therapy easton ma, best rated physical therapists near me, rotator cuff therapy near me, marathon pt norton, dedham physical therapy, star therapy nyc, marathon physical therapy and sports performance, great neck tools website, physical therapy room layout, shoulder physical therapy, pt-nyv, benefits of shoulder physical therapy new york, physical therapist near me floral park, marathon health phone number, physical therapy for neck injuries in ny, minden physical therapy, best physical therapy for athletes near me, sports pt near me, reviews of physical therapists near me, massage great neck ny, marahon, good life physical therapy, experienced physical theraphists queens, reddy care great neck, therapist marathon, good physical therapy near me, metro physical therapy great neck, ny physical therapy, marathon physical therapy reviews, marathon physical therapy canton, marathon clinic near me, pt long neck, physical therapy near me, achieve physical therapy and rehabilitation of long island, physical therapy results, orthopedic physical therapy new york, physical therapists in ny, middle neck, marathon health clinic near me, sport physio near me, marathon physical therapy near me, pt new york, core therapy near me, marathon health near me, mv physical therapy, sports physical therapy near me, sports therapy long island, shoulder therapy near me, marathon physical therapy and sports medicine, marathon physical therapy locations, physical therapy saturday hours, shoulder physical therapy new york, physical therapy for neck injuries, pt near me, how long is a physical therapy session, sports physiotherapy near me, pain management physical therapy, marathon physical therapy norton, massage in great neck, florists great neck, physical center near me, sciatica massage near me, best physical therapy for neck pain near me, physical rehabilitation long neck, dpt nyc, no fault physical therapy near me, doctors of physical therapy, marathon services, marathon medical, physical therapy llc, physical therapy for shoulder injuries in ny, in-home rehabilitation care great neck, physical therapy for neck and shoulder pain near me, best physical therapy nesconset, marathon physical therapy dedham, spear great neck, marathon pt dedham, physical therapy navy, physio appointment, physiotherapy sessions near me, physical therapy for shoulder nyc, therapy near by, marathon physical therapy floral park, marathon sports physical therapy, physical therapy in long island, great neck physical therapy, ortho physical therapy new york ny, neck physical therapy manhattan, great neck homecare, physiotherapist center, physical therapy marathon fl, physical therapy centereach, marathon healthcare, physiotherapist pt, physical theropy near me, physical therapy experts great neck, brownstone physical therapy, good to go sports therapy, ny therapy, physical therapy treatment new york, neck pain physical therapy new york, physical therapy in ny, physical therapy nesr me, psychologist great neck, running physical therapist nyc, marathon therapy, physical therapy nassau county, good pt, performance physical therapy near me, marathon health hours, top physical therapy near me, orthopedic associates great neck, marathon pt great neck, best rated physical therapy nyc, physical therapy northern blvd great neck, psychologist great neck ny, physical therapy near me open saturday, physical therapy in great neck, physical therapt near me, marathon physical therapy great neck, physiotherapist open sunday, montalto physical therapy, physiologic pt, sport physiotherapy near me, old post physical therapy, physical therapist near me, best physical therapist near me, physiotherapy near me, marathon physical therapy newton, iv physical therapy, athletic therapy near me, local physiotherapy clinic, marathon physical therapy norton ma, marrthon, roadside physical therapy, sports therapy new york, marathon pt, neck physical therapy nyc, physical therapy great neck ny, shoulder physiotherapy near me, what to do in great neck, peconic physical therapy, best sports physical therapy near me, physical therapy for runners near me, neck therapy, marathon pt newton, physical therapy around me, marathon physical therapy great neck ny, sport physical therapy near me, nearby physical therapy, sports physiotherapists near me, shoulder pt near me, marathon clinic, good life pt, marathon physical therapy norwood, physical therapy ny, body power physical therapy, great neck plaza nassau county process service, physical therapy of new york, running physical therapy around me, martino physical therapy, physical therapy sports, physical therapy great neck, physiotherapy therapist, marathon physical therapy, nearest physical therapy, physical therapy open on weekends, speonk physical therapy, wychock physical therapy, physical therapy nesconset, how to get the most out of physical therapy, physiotherapy doctor, pyshical, info pt best, sport therapist near me, experienced physical theraphists new york, sport therapy near me, pain management great neck, running therapist, best physical therapist smithtown, shockwave therapy tarrytown, best at home physical therapy, local physical therapy clinics manhattan, marathon physical therapy dedham ma, sports physical therapist near me, neufit neubie cost, physical therapy long island, physical therapist near me great neck, marathon sports, physical therapy floral park, physical therapy for athletes great neck, neck pt, physical therapy nassau, marathon health locations, physical therapy kings point, neck exercise flower, the one at great neck, physiotherapy clinic near me, physical therapy now near me, physical therapy offices near me, custom performance nyc, physical therapy for athletes near me, maraton sports, sports physical therapists near me, marathon health care, physical therapy for pain management great neck, physical therapy for back nyc, great neck home healthcare, neubie cost, marathon physical therapy newton ma, benefits of neck physical therapy new york, gananda physical therapy, things to do in great neck ny, physical therapist for athletes near me, join pt best, functional movement therapy near me, neubie therapy near me, shoulder pain physical therapy new york, ny marathons, athletic physical therapy near me, marathon massage, weatherford physical therapy, best local moving company near me little neck ny, lower back massage, physical therapy sports near me, maraton health, physical therapy open on weekends near me, class iv laser therapy near me, athletic therapist near me, physio nyc, sports injury therapist near me, great neck rd, physical office near me, great therapy, spear physical therapy great neck, physical therapy on, marathon service, associated great neck, droney physical therapy, back pain physical therapy new york, physical therapy programs long island, physio, marathon physical therapy sharon ma, physiotherapist office, neubie machine cost, best physical therapists near me, marathon helath, therapy services of greater new york, sports injury clinics near me, physical therapist in long island, local physical therapy clinics great neck, pt, doctors physiotherapy, how much does a neubie cost, base physical therapy, best physical therapy near me, travel physical therapy blog, best neck physical therapy near me, physical therapy, sure care physical therapy, stars physical therapy great neck, results physical therapy near me, great neck, physiotherapist near me, physical therapist, ny pt, therapy ny, physical therapy hours, performance therapy near me, pollock physical therapy, 테라피스트 마라톤, physical therapy clinics great neck, physical therapy minden, manual physical therapy near me, physical therapist ny, sports therapy services, dpt sport, pt therapy, marrathon, how often should you go to physical therapy, physical threapy, running clinic near me, lymphedema physical therapy, physical therapy shoulder near me, adirondack physical therapy, physical therapy open now, orthopedic physical therapist, physical therapy scar tissue massage, sports physio near me, in home physical therapy near me, neck therapy near me, home physical therapy solutions pc, professional physical therapy, the physical therapy, best physical therapy great neck, long island sports and rehab, energy physical therapy, pt at home near me, proven performance physical therapy, physical therapy phone number, concentra therapy, physical therapy dr, physical therapy near me now, physiotherapist hours, no-fault physical therapy near me, physician therapy, does physical therapy work, sports physical therapy, how much does 6 weeks of physical therapy cost, atp physical therapy, physical therapy treatment nyc, physical therepy near me, maratho health, pt rehab center, physio near me, ny custom pt, neubie machine price, physical therpay, shoulder physical therapist near me, sports therapist near me, sports performance therapy, sports therapy and rehabilitation services, fysiotherapie, dpt near me, best shoulder physical therapy near me, physical therapy appointment for post race marathoners, physical therapist company, physiotherapy clinic, maroton, dr physiotherapy, quality physical therapy, physical therapist open on weekends, d physical therapy, pt offices, best physical therapy long island, shoulder rehab near me, gym great neck, physicians physical therapy service, intense physical therapy near me, sports physical therapist nyc, top-rated physical therapist your city, experienced physical theraphists manhattan, great neck rehab, marathon pt wellesley, marathan health, health solutions great neck, shoulder therapist near me, sports injury physical therapy near me, dr marathon, therepy, nearest physical therapist, after hours physio near me, physical therapy nearby, physical therapist open on saturday, pediatric pt near me, how often should i go to physical therapy, marathon health appointments, great basin physical therapy, marathon sports locations, physical therapy locations, weekend physical therapy, athlete physical therapy near me, thereapists near me, sports injury rehab near me, physical theraoy near me, physical therapy nyc, physiotherapy hours, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy appointment today, sports performance physical therapy near me, best pt, physical therapy treatment manhattan, clinical physical therapist, custom pt nyc, urgent physio appointment near me, sports recovery therapy near me, dry needing, drac physical therapy, physicak therapist, physical therapy that takes insurance, marathon physical therapy wellesley, best pt places near me, active physical therapy, physio new york, marathon health address, mid back pain treatments in long island ny, physical theraphy, better health physical therapy, physical therapy weekend hours, physical therapy clinic ny, one to one physical therapy, floral park physical therapy, reddy physical therapy great neck, physical therapy open on sunday, local physical therapist, physical therapy order, plantar fasciitis physical therapy near me, sports injury physio near me, running physical therapist near me, running pt nyc, gym physical therapy, great neck florist, sports physical therapist, orthopedic physical therapy near me, marathons near me, therapy sport center, best pt near me, doctor physiotherapist, marthon health, how long is the average physical therapy session, physicak therapy near me, performance therapy, physical therapy near me nyc, marathon health clinic, physical therapy internships nyc, old town physical therapy, matathon health, physical therapy and fitness center, marathoon, physical therapy shoulder specialist near me, sports physical therapy of new york pc, physical therapy services in new york, physical theraphy near me, neck doctors near me, best physiotherapy near me, phone number for physical therapy, nassau county marathon, physicak therapy, marathon health reviews, nyc physical therapy, orthopedic therapy near me, manual therapy, shockwave therapy near me, pt new, physical therapy for kids near me, athletic therapists near me, great neck gym, nassau sports physical therapy, physical therapy today, physical therapy near me within 1 mi, sports therapist, physicians therapy, sports physiotherapist near me, sports therapy clinics, physical therapy merrick ny, vestibular therapy, marathon sports near me, physical therapy specialists great neck, physical therapy for, marathon.health, physiotherapy treatment near me, physical therapy new york, physucal therapy, physical therapy near mr, good care physical therapy, running physical therapy near me, physical therapy medina ny, best in home physical therapy near me, physical therapy for injury recovery great neck, physical therapist long island, physical therapy clinics near me, physicla therapy near me, defiance physical therapy, us physical therapy, louis physical therapy, sports physical therapy great neck, physio clinic, physical therapy in home near me, physical therapist near me now, physical therapy clinics in ny, physical therapy near me that accepts insurance, vestibular physical therapy, best physical therapy for back pain near me, best physical therapy for shoulder near me, best rated physical therapy, physical therapy nyc near me, personal trainer great neck ny, new york physiotherapy, north shore rehabilitation associates, floral therapist, best physical therapist, the best physical therapy near me, jpm physical therapy, physical therapy open on saturday near me, what to do after physical therapy session, physiotherapist near me with fees, plan physical therapy, marathon physical therapy canton ma, park in great neck, pediatric sports physical therapy near me, best pediatric physical therapy near me, great neck gyms, sports physical therapist companies, when to go to physical therapy, dpt physical therapy near me, pt physical therapy near me, best sports therapy near me, physical rehab centers near me, physiotherapy center near me, physiotherapy doctor near me, therapy clinic near me, marathon laser, marathone, marathon heatlh, cervical physical therapy near me, massage great neck, orthopedics physical therapy, physical therapy clinics in new york, restoration physiotherapy, local physical therapy clinics, nassau county physical therapy, physical therapy near me open on weekends, physiotherapist, physical therapist for vertigo near me, physical therqpy, shoulder physio near me, what time does physical therapy close, 300 great neck road, therapy near me, massage near me within 1 mi, physical therapy places, pt physiotherapist, physical therapy port washington, local physical therapy, physical therapy specialists floral park, performance physical therapy, physical therapy for shoulder near me, physical therapy places open on saturday, great neck physical therapist
