OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between pinch and grip strength and the radiologic severity of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) in different hand joints. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients (17 male, 38 female) with HOA between ages 46-85 and 49 control subjects (31 female, 18 male) without HOA between ages 45-86 were included in the study. Hand radiograph of the patients were scored according to Kellgren Lawrence (KL) scale. Grip and pinch strength of hands was measured using a Jamar dynamometer and a pinchmeter. Visual analogue scale (0-10 scale) was used for pain intensity. Examination of hand consisted of palpation of Heberden and Bouchard knodes and crepitation of first carpometacarpal (CMC) joints in both hands. RESULTS: Severity of pain by VAS was significantly higher in the patient group than in the controls (p<0.001). Though grip and pinch strengths were lower in the patient group, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0,05). There were negative but weak correlations between grip strength (r=-0,253, p<0,001), pinch strength tip to tip (r=-0,212, p<0,001), three chuck (r=-0,208, p<0,001) and KL score of the patient group. Grip and pinch strength values of the KL grade 1 patients were higher than KL grade 2,3,4 patients but the difference did not reach statistically significant levels (p>0,05).CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that the HOA group had higher prior pinch and grip strength values and this higher muscle strenght may be responsible for the development of HOA.