Interinstrument Reliability Between the Squegg® Smart Dynamometer and Hand Grip Trainer and the Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Importance: Occupational therapists need dependable and accurate instruments for remote assessments and monitoring of hand functionality. These assessments monitor progress, evaluate interventions, and guide independence goals. Objective: To assess the interinstrument reliability and concurrent validity of the Squegg® Smart Dynamometer and Hand Grip Trainer and the Jamar® Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer. Design: Repeated-measures design. Setting: Individual clinic in Bucharest, Romania. Participants: Forty middle-age and older adult volunteers, healthy and free from any neuromuscular, orthopedic dysfunction that affected hand strength. Outcomes and Measures: Participants’ maximal grip strength (MGS) for both their dominant and nondominant hands was measured with both devices. Participants with odd-numbered IDs were measured with the Squegg first and the Jamar second, and those with even-numbered IDs were measured in opposite sequence. Results: Paired-samples t tests on overall mean MGS and mean MGS (three measures on each hand) showed no statistically significant differences between the two devices. Intraclass correlation analysis showed good to excellent interinstrument agreement. Pearson correlations between measurements across all participants, and hands, indicated strong agreement. Conclusions and Relevance: The Squegg shows promise for health care professionals, including occupational therapists, for grip strength assessment in clinical contexts. What This Article Adds: These results offer initial psychometric data for a new remote MGS measurement device. MGS is crucial for assessing the physical function of aging adults. Reliable measurements from such a device are vital for occupational therapists to guide treatment interventions and assess hand function’s impact on daily activities.