OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding hand grip strength in healthy children and teenagers with four to 18 years old. DATA SOURCES: Databases Medline, Lilacs and SciELO were searched for studies published from 2000 to 2007, using the keywords: grasp, hand, strength, grip, child and adolescent. DATA SYNTHESIS: Measures of hand grip strength are important to provide an objective index of the functional integrity of the upper limbs. Studies evaluating the hand grip strength have been published since 1956, however the majority of them enrolled adults (19 to 44 years-old) and middle-age (45 to 64 years-old) subjects. Only one article was published in Brazil about hand grip strength of children and teenagers. Most studies try to associate hand grip strength and anthropometric variables. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective randomized trials with large number of patients are needed to evaluate the hand grip strength in Brazilian children and teenagers. Boys have hand grip strength greater than girls, especially after 11 years old. The anthropometric factors such as weight and height were significantly associated with hand grip strength.
hand strength; grasp; child; adolescent