What is manugraphy?
A standardized way to study hand grip distribution.
manugraphy uses cylinder-shaped pressure sensors to measure how the hand applies load during gripping. Instead of reporting only a single grip-force value, it separates the contribution of individual fingers, phalanges, thumb and palm.
The system supports dynamic grip sequences, allowing users to review local forces during the measurement and compare left-right, pre-post or repeated grip conditions.
Measurement detail
Designed for objective functional hand analysis.
896 sensor elements
Two cylinder sizes carry high-resolution sensors for different hand sizes and standardized gripping positions.
20 Hz sampling
Sensor data is sampled during gripping so the dynamic course of the grip can be replayed and reviewed.
Finger-level reporting
Software allocates measured forces to fingers, phalanges, thumb and palm regions.
2D, 3D and isobar views
Pressure pictures, force curves and regional load values help compare functional changes.
Workflow
Measure, cue, replay and compare gripping patterns.
Audio cues help standardize grip and release timing. The software organizes subject data, stores measurements, visualizes absolute pressure values and supports reporting for repeated or comparative hand assessments.
For users inside the EC, novel notes that manugraphy is not certified as a medical device under 93/42/EEC; use requirements should be checked against the intended setting.
Research context
manugraphy supports objective hand-function publications.
The novel publication index includes hand studies on grip force monitoring, wrist fusion, cylinder grip load distribution and parameters influencing hand grip strength measured with manugraphy.
Hand function
Grip force distribution
Local pressure data shows how different hand regions contribute to a gripping task.
Pre-post comparison
Functional change tracking
Repeated measurements can compare treatment, training or ergonomic conditions.
Biofeedback
Standardized grip sequences
Audio cueing and playback help control the measurement procedure.
manugraphy publications
Journal articles13 publications
- Dynamic hand and finger load distribution patterns in the first year following surgically treated distal radius fracture Johannes Karnatz; Christoph Harms; Dagmar-Christiane Fischer; Thomas Mittlmeier 2025 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 26:486 First online: 2025-05-16.
- Force loss and distribution of load in the hands of patients with cubital tunnel syndrome Angelina Garkisch; Kristina Rohmfeld; Dagmar-Christiane Fischer; Karl-Josef Prommersberger; Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor 2024 · Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 49(1):66–72 First online: 2023-09-11.
- Prospective analysis of grip strength and load distribution after surgical treatment of common diseases of the hand with novel’s manugraphy® system Jasmin S. Grüner; Aijia Cai; Isabel Pingel; Raymund E. Horch; Justus P. Beier; Andreas Arkudas 2023 · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. 143(10):6477–6485 First online: 2023-07-24.
- Comparing Statistics and Machine Learning to Detect Insincere Grip Force Testing Using Manugraphy Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Eren Cenik; Peter Hahn; Karl J. Prommersberger 2023 · Cureus. 15(1):e33837 First online: 2023-01-16. Secondary analysis of previously measured data.
- Effect of a single proximal interphalangeal Joint Fusion of the Index, Middle or Ring Finger on the Grip and Finger Force and Load Distribution in the Hand Polina Dimitrova; Angela Reger; Karl-Josef Prommersberger; Jörg van Schoonhoven; Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor 2022 · Handchirurgie · Mikrochirurgie · Plastische Chirurgie. 54(5):409–417 First online: 2022-08-29.
- Influence of the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon transfer on grip strength Angelina Garkisch; Stefanie Schmitt; Nicole Kim; Dagmar-C. Fischer; Karl-Josef Prommersberger; Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor 2022 · Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). 47(4):405–409 First online: 2021-12-03.
- Dynamic Manugraphy as a Promising Tool to Assess the Outcome of Limited Aponeurectomy in Patients With Dupuytren's Contracture Angelina Garkisch; Thomas Mittlmeier; Axel Kalpen; Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Dagmar-C. Fischer; Alice Wichelhaus 2021 · Frontiers in Medicine. 7:604891 First online: 2021-01-12.
- Force distribution of a cylindrical grip differs between dominant and nondominant hand in healthy subjects Aijia Cai; I. Pingel; D. Lorz; J. P. Beier; R. E. Horch; A. Arkudas 2018 · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. 138(9):1323–1331 First online: 2018-07-10.
- Influence of Maximal or Submaximal Effort on the Load Distribution of the Hand Analyzed by Manugraphy Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Eren Cenik; Peter Hahn; Thomas Mittlmeier; Jörg van Schoonhoven; Karl Josef Prommersberger 2018 · The Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume). 43(10):948.e1–948.e9 First online: 2018-03-16.
- Parameters influencing hand grip strength measured with the manugraphy system Alice Wichelhaus; Christoph Harms; Julia Neumann; Steffen Ziegler; Günther Kundt; Karl Josef Prommersberger; Thomas Mittlmeier; Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor 2018 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 19:54 First online: 2018-02-14.
- Load distribution of the hand during cylinder grip analyzed by Manugraphy Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Steffen Ziegler; Christoph Harms; Julia Neumann; Günther Kundt; Thomas Mittlmeier; Karl Josef Prommersberger 2017 · Journal of Hand Therapy. 30(4):529–537 First online: 2017-02-28.
- The Effect of Midcarpal Versus Total Wrist Fusion on the Hand's Load Distribution During Gripping Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Angela Reger; Jörg van Schoonhoven; Thomas Mittlmeier; Karl Josef Prommersberger 2015 · The Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume). 40(11):2183–2190
- Grip force monitoring on the hand: Manugraphy system versus Jamar dynamometer Marion Mühldorfer-Fodor; Steffen Ziegler; Christoph Harms; Julia Neumann; Alessandra Cristalli; Axel Kalpen; Günther Kundt; Thomas Mittlmeier; K. J. Prommersberger 2014 · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery. 134(8):1179–1188 First online: 2014-06-17.
Product videos
See the measurement workflow.
Short novel videos help visitors understand sensor placement, data acquisition and pressure map interpretation before they request a demo.
manugraphy overview
Hand assessment using a cylinder-shaped pressure distribution sensor.
Flyers
manugraphy application material
manugraphy
PDF flyer
Need to know more about manugraphy?
We can help determine whether manugraphy, pliance glove or another hand sensor workflow best fits your hand assessment question.