Straight-Arm Hang Endurance and Grip Performance While Wearing Winter Gloves: Implications for Chairlift Rescue

Falls from chairlifts are rare but can have catastrophic consequences. Unseated passengers may attempt to prevent a fall by holding onto a chairlift structure, yet little is known about how long this can be sustained, particularly while wearing snow sport gloves. This study investigated the effects of snow sport gloves on straight-arm hang endurance, maximum grip strength, and grip endurance. Thirty-eight adults (19 females, 19 males; 35 ± 10 years) completed straight-arm hang endurance, maximum grip strength, and grip endurance tests under barehanded and gloved conditions. Overall, mean straight-arm hang endurance decreased from 61.1 ± 35.0 s barehanded to 28.8 ± 22.7 s when wearing winter gloves (p < 0.001). Males demonstrated longer straight-arm hang endurance and greater grip strength than females; however, the detrimental effects of gloves were similar between the sexes. Multiple linear regression identified normalized maximum grip strength (grip strength/body weight), followed by sex, as the strongest predictors of straight-arm hang endurance for both gloved and barehanded conditions. Winter gloves substantially reduced the ability to support body weight during a straight-arm hang. Although endurance varied considerably among participants, the mean gloved hang times were less than 30 s under the evaluated conditions.