Relationship of anthropometric measurement and handgrip strength in Malaysian recreational tenpin bowlers

Background and Study Aim. Established studies show that athletes with longer fingers and broader hand surfaces have more muscular grips. Therefore, some research studies have examined various contributing factors and anthropometric characteristics. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hand dimensions and selected anthropometric characteristics on handgrip strength in recreational tenpin bowlers. Material and Methods. This cross-sectional study recruited 32 (12 females, 20 males) healthy Malaysian recreational tenpin bowlers from Kuala Lumpur. Their anthropometric characteristics including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), the dimensions of the right hand, and age were measured accordingly. Handgrip strength was assessed using a Takei 5401 Grip D (Digital Grip Dynamometer) with 3 trials for both hands. A Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to study the relationship between the parameters. Results. The body height and the minimum breadth of the right hand had a significant impact on handgrip strength among recreational tenpin bowlers. There was a significant difference between males and females in left and right handgrip strength (p<0.05). Males showed a greater handgrip strength compared to females in both hands’ strength. Body height (p = 0.00) and the minimum breadth of the hand (p = 0.03) were found to be significantly correlated with the handgrip strength thus indicating the two variables as strong predictors of handgrip strength. Conclusions. This study confirms that there is a relationship between anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength in Malaysian recreational tenpin bowlers. Hence, it will be a great note for new bowlers to advance their bowling performance.