Grip & Hold

When your hand and wrist are in the neutral position, your grip strength is said to be at 100 percent. Bending or twisting your wrist in any way weakens your grip strength and puts pressure upon the nerves and tendons.

Power grip- the hand grip that gives you the most power is when your fingers are completely wrapped around the handle of a tool and your wrist remains straight during use.

Pinch grip- this grip involves holding a tool between the thumb and fingertips and is often used when performing detailed precision work. Over time, a pinch grip can cause fatigue in the fingers and wrist.

Tools that fit the hand properly without causing awkward postures or harmful contact pressures are tools that can be used for longer periods of time and can reduce the incidence of conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis.

To learn more about Construction Ergonomics visit our Construction Ergonomics Online Training web page.