Physical Therapy Assistant Practice Exam

If a patient achieved a maximum grip strength force output of 55 using a dynamometer, what unit of measure would be most likely?

1. Newton

2. Millimeters

3. Kilograms

4. Pascals

The correct answer is: Kilograms

The most appropriate unit of measure for grip strength force output using a dynamometer is kilograms. Grip strength is typically expressed in terms of force, and while force can be represented in newtons, the output from many dynamometers is calibrated and reported in kilograms. This unit reflects the weight that can be lifted or held by the grip, which corresponds well with patient assessments in physical therapy settings. Newtons could be a viable option since they measure force directly, but in practice, many physical therapy instruments provide results in kilograms to give a more intuitive sense of strength in relation to body weight or lifting capacity. Millimeters are a unit of length and would not apply in this context, while pascals measure pressure, which is also not relevant when discussing grip force specifically. Therefore, kilograms stands as the most logical and commonly utilized measurement in evaluating grip strength during therapy assessments.