Two important components of muscle function are muscular strength, that is, the peak force a muscle group can produce, and muscle power—how rapidly the force comes to fruition. Testing is accomplished in a multitude of ways: laboratory-based dynamometery, linear position transducers, force plates, Tendo units, Nottingham power rig, fly wheels and much more.
For those who like to test their athletes, assessment of upper and lower body strength and power can be derived with one simple tool, a hand-held dynamometer. In recent studies it has been shown that hand-held dynamometry has good to excellent reliability. It has demonstrated validity in most measures of lower and upper limb strength and power in healthy populations.
The Pendulum Foot Pedal as seen above Makes the Machine a great Testing Device
The Pendulum Gripper has advantages over hand-held dynamometry. Not only are you able to measure hand strength accurately, you are able to train and improve force as well. The following is a simple test to measure the grip strength of your team:
. First, you will have to find the amount of weight that only your strongest athlete can hold. The grip handles must touch and be held together with exactly zero movement, for 60 seconds. This weight will become the standard amount that your entire team must try to accomplish.
. With the standard weight selected, the athlete uses the foot pedal on the Pendulum Gripper to join the handles. The athlete squeezes the handles tightly and releases the foot pedal when instructed to begin the timed test. Using a stop watch the administrator carefully watches the ‘attempted 60 second hold’ looking for any separation of the steel handles. Once the handles break apart in any manner the test stops and the time is recorded.
. Each athlete is aspiring to accomplish the 60 second hold of the teams strongest athlete. Their test time reflects their grip strength in relation to the teams highest handclasp (ex.33 seconds vs. 60). The entire teams poundage is raised when the strongest athlete can hold the standard weight for 90 seconds. If 90 seconds is eventually achieved by anyone in the group then the teams 60 second testing load is increased by 2.5 pounds for the next grip evaluation.
. Upon appraisment you will find some athletes only capable of keeping steel on steel for a few seconds, many will be graded as average, and some athletes will hold the handles together not far off of the teams best. The results will inspire all to strengthen their hands, and all will quickly find hand training to improve other lifts.
. Administering this assessment, the Pendulum Gripper, and grip strength suddenly take on a new training importance very similar to what occurs when athletes know they will be evaluated by a bench press or squat.
Challenge your team. Get them Strong.
Use the Foot Pedal to close the Gripper to begin the Test
The Handles are squeezed tight -Steel touching Steel.
The Handles have separated – Test is Over
Pendulum Grippers Getting Ready to be Shipped
