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Background Hand grip strength (HGS) test is commonly used as an indicator of overall muscle strength in medical and sport practices. Recently, several studies have proposed that the measurement of the maximal HGS depends on dynamometer’s handle position. The aim of the present study was to identify the optimal handle position to obtain maximal HGS using the hand grip dynamometer (HGD) for school-aged children. Methods HGS was assessed with the Jamar digital HGD. Each participant performed three maximum contractions of each hand on three handle positions progressing from first to third position. Results A total of 135 healthy children aged 5–9 years participated in the study. Participants obtained significantly higher results using position 2 than using positions 1 or 3. The maximal mean (± SD) HGS achieved was 9.9 (± 3.1) kg with position 1, 10.4 (± 3.1) kg with position 2, and 9.0 (± 3.2) kg with position 3. Handle position 2 was the most comfortable position for 73% of participants. Conclusions Our results provide useful methodological information indicating that the second handle position of the Jamar digital HGD is optimal to measure maximal HGS in non-athletic healthy pediatric participants aged 5–9 years.

La medición y evaluación de la condición física permite al profesorado estimar el rendimiento físico del alumnado. Estos resultados cada vez muestran más relación con un mejor rendimiento académico y con una mejor salud cardiovascular. Por eso es frecuente que investigadores centren sus estudios y test físicos en escolares de educación infantil. En este trabajo de fin de grado se estudia la condición física de niños/as de 5 años de un Colegio Público de Pamplona mediante una intervención práctica; utilizan do los materiales de la “Batería PREFIT: Evaluación del FITness en PREescolares”. Los datos obtenidos se han contrastado con los obtenidos en la Universidad de Granada y se han relacionado con percentiles. Estos estudios han sido comparados según sexo y semestre de nacimiento y a partir de los resultados, se ha concienciado al alumnado y familias sobre la importancia que tiene la condición física saludable así como la prevención de enfermedades. The measurement and evaluation of the physical condition allows faculty members to estimate the students’ physical performance. These results are increasingly related to better academic performance and cardiovascular health. Therefore, there is an increased interest among researchers on studying and performing physical tests on pre-schoolers. This work focuses on analysing the physical condition of 5-year old students enrolled in one of Pamplona’s public schools, through practical intervention, using materials from “Systematic review and proposal of a field-based physical fitness-test battery in preschool children: the PREFIT battery”. The research results were compared with those obtained by researches in the University of Granada, by gender and semester of birth. The results were also used to raise awareness among students and their families about the importance of keeping a healthy physical condition. Graduado o Graduada en Maestro en Educación Infantil por la Universidad Pública de Navarra Haur Hezkuntzako Irakasletzan Graduatua Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoan