“Five” Significant Challenges Faced by Therapists & Patients While Using a Conventional Dynamometer

“Five” Significant Challenges Faced by Therapists & Patients While Using a Conventional Dynamometer

Overview: The hand dynamometer is a measuring tool that evaluates the maximum strength of our hands and forearm muscles.

Hand therapists have been using conventional dynamometers for decades to measure and evaluate the maximum grip strength of their patients. Hand and occupational therapists highly focus on grip strength, also interesting to note that it is a biomarker of overall body strength ( other necessary tests must be performed along with it).

Research has shown that grip strength is the predictive measure of our health.

The scientific study Grip strength as an Indicator of health-related quality of life in old age- A pilot study (1).compared the physical well-being of participants based on their hand grip strength. After experiment they concluded that grip strength can be considered as an indicator of health-related quality of life.

Understanding the importance of grip strength and its evaluation process Squegg made something that would provide a conventional dynamometer-like evaluation facility but also does something more than that. We can name the Squegg device as the more intelligent version of a conventional dynamometer with additional features.

Squegg; The bluetooth-enabled digital dynamometer is designed to make hand therapists’  grip strength assessment easy and accurate.

Here you will see how a Squegg device acts better than a conventional dynamometer.

In Hand Therapy Squegg Offers MORE; Smarter Than Conventional Dynamometer

Measuring Accuracy: Squegg is a bluetooth-enabled digital dynamometer that evaluates and tracks grip strength

With an analogue dynamometer, therapists need to take grip strength reading manually. As Squegg is digital, therapists can get an accurate reading of grip strength with no chance of manual error. Squegg is an appropriate option to take quick and accurate reading of grip strength in a more sophisticated way. So, it is smarter than conventional analogue dynamometers.

Versatility: Squegg acts as both a hand dynamometer & a grip strength trainer

A conventional hand dynamometer is a measuring tool of grip strength. It measures the maximum Strength of our hand and forearm muscles. But after measuring the grip, patients need to work on their forearm muscles to increase their grip strength. For that, they need a grip strength trainer, another tool for hand strength training. That means a patient needs two pieces of equipment for grip strength measuring and training.

Whereas, Squegg is a Two in One option. It acts as both a measuring tool and a training tool. So, it can be a cost-effective option for patients.

Real-time progress: Squegg is not only made for quantitative measurements. Instead, it helps users to check their progress in real-time.

Dynamometers’ functions end up in measuring. It is a single-use equipment, but Squegg is something more than an assessment device Regular assessment is vital in rehabilitative care to understand the recovery progress. Even a small positive progress report usually motivates patients to continue their treatment till the end. When therapists shift to Squegg, they can assess patients’ grip strength in real-time. Its dedicated application helps them to set benchmark strength by checking your patients’ present grip or forearm condition for the left and right hand separately. Patients can train their hands with in-app routines and pre-programmed gamified exercises.

Even therapists can customize the details in the isometric exercise section for their patients and set grip counts, target grip range, and exercise time accordingly. So, Squegg can be an excellent alternative to both a conventional dynamometer and a grip trainer.

Portability: Squegg is significantly lightweight & travel-friendly

The complete volume of the Squegg is 68*45*45mm. So it can be easily carried out in our bag or pocket. The heavy weight of a hand dynamometer can sometimes be a concern for a therapist to carry from one place to another because it hardly fits into a small bag. Furthermore, we need good packaging before traveling to avoid breaking any part of the dynamometer, which may cause an instrumental error. 

On the other hand, the ergonomics of Squegg are simple and made with high-grade silicon. Weight is just 26 grams. Shape and size are convenient for traveling. So, It can be carried out easily. Portability makes our device unique and different from conventional dynamometers.

Remote Monitoring Process: As Squegg is digitally connected, it is potentially an ideal tool for the remote monitoring process

Presently, the remote monitoring process is an inevitable part of rehabilitative care. Thus therapists are always in search of devices or equipment which are digitally connected and portable. However, a conventional dynamometer is not digitally connected, so it is not applicable for the remote monitoring process.

On the other hand, Squegg is a blue-tooth-enabled digital dynamometer. It is integrated with a dedicated application and can be connected to the phone via Bluetooth. So patients can share progress reports and clear statistics with therapists. This progress report will help therapists to customize further hand exercise plans for patients. So, Squegg is a better measuring and recovery companion indeed!  

Reference:

  1. Grip strength as an Indicator of Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age-A Pilot Study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5750866/)

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