At Anatomical Concepts, we are getting to grips with the Carbonhand again, so we have been delving into the research literature and sorting through the significant, curious and sometimes serious, facts to do with grip strength and human function. We don’t often write about Dementia but it is one of the conditions that shortens lives and seriously affects healthspan so we certainly don’t doubt it’s importance as a topic.

In Dr Peter Attia's excellent book, "Outlive", he mentions a recent study (by Irene Esteban-Cornejo et al, 2022) looking at nearly half a million patients in the UK which found that grip strength, which is strongly correlated with overall strength and indeed lifespan, was inversely associated with the incidence of dementia. These are findings are from the UK Biobank prospective cohort study.

People with the weakest grip had a 72% higher incidence of dementia compared to those in the top quartile for grip strength (the strongest).

What do we make of this?

Why do we need a good grip? I guess the answer is obvious. Humans use their hands in a multitude of ways. From waving hello and goodbye, to pointing directions, or using sign language, our hands are an integral part of communication in all cultures. Of course, we must grip, lift, hold, and manipulate objects in our daily lives. Unfortunately, the muscles and nervous system that powers these movements can become weak or immobile due to age, illness, or injury. For older individuals, researchers have suggested that grip strength is a “useful indicator for overall health,” and as a biomarker of health status, it may be a better indicator of life expectancy than blood pressure.

At Anatomical Concepts, we often work closely with clients who have neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries, stroke, MS, cerebral palsy and more. The full list of conditions that can potentially benefit from help is shown below. These individuals may have grip problems and seek in the best case to either recover function via therapeutic exercises or use assistive technology to compensate for lost grip function.

In this article we review Carbonhand from Bioservo Technologies which allows many users to regain the power and the sensitivity of their grip

Carbonhand, a ground breaking assistive device, is set to transform the lives of individuals with weak grip and poor hand function in the United Kingdom.

Combining advanced technology and innovative design, this grip-strengthening, robotic glove offers newfound independence and enhanced quality of life to those who struggle with hand strength and dexterity. In this article, we will explore the product, who might benefit from Carbonhand, and describe the main features of this revolutionary medical device. The journey of Carbonhand began in the early 2000s with Hans von Holst, a neurologist at Karolinska Hospital, who often encountered patients with severely reduced strength and mobility in their hands. Teaming up with Jan Wikander, Professor of Mechatronics, they began developing a glove that could help strengthen hand grip. This collaboration led to the creation of the first Servoglove, the predecessor of Carbonhand.