We quantify strength in people with and without impairments. We measure the forces and torques people can produce while we monitor their arm posture and their muscle activity levels. We often engineer our own equipment to enable accurate testing when subjects have severe weakness caused by a disability
The relationship between pinch strength, wrist position, and elbow position can influence whether individuals
can complete important tasks such as using an ATM machine (requires extended elbow), or brushing their teeth
(requires flexed elbow).
In our lab, we have observed that surgically restored pinch function is stronger when the elbow is extended.
Individuals with tendon transfers extend their wrists more when using their hands when the elbow is flexed.