Peak expiratory flow mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and timed up and go performance in elderly women, but not men

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to verify if there is sex difference in the associations among handgrip strength, peak expiratory flow (PEF) and timed up and go (TUG) test results. METHODS: The sample included 288 consecutive elderly men (n=93) and women (n=195). Functional capacity was measured using the TUG test, and muscle strength was measured based on handgrip. Moreover, as a measure of current health status, PEF was evaluated. Linear regression procedures were performed to analyze the relationships between handgrip and both PEF and TUG test results, with adjustment for confounders, and to identify the possible mediating role of PEF in the association between handgrip strength and TUG test results. RESULTS: In men, handgrip strength was associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). After adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance remained significant. In women, handgrip strength was also associated with both PEF and TUG performance (p<0.01). However, after adjustment for PEF, the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance was no longer significant. CONCLUSION: Mobility in the elderly is sex dependent. In particular, PEF mediates the relationship between handgrip strength and TUG performance in women, but not in men

Handgrip strength

The basic function of the human hand is the manipulation and grasping of various objects in all daily activities, including work activities. This is greatly influenced by strength and manual dexterity. However age, gender and other contexts such as work or leisure activities could influence strength. Handgrip strength, a measure of maximum voluntary force of the hand, has proved to be reliable and valid as an objective parameter to evaluate the functional integrity of the hand as part of the musculoskeletal system. It correlates highly with strength in other muscular groups and is therefore considered as a good indicator of overall muscular strength and functional stress and could be used as a predictor of physical disability. Handgrip strength assessment is simple and reliable and used commonly by several investigators and health professionals, in different contexts (medical, nutritional, rehabilitation, professional settings, engineering, etc.) and with different purposes (research, diagnostic, assessment, etc.). In clinical and rehabilitation settings is of vital importance in the determination of effectiveness of several interventions and for monitoring evolution of diseases. Various ways (methods, techniques and equipments) of collecting information on grip strength have been reported. This chapter will review basic concepts on handgrip function, methodologies of assessment, contexts of application and correlates, such as physical activity, health or nutritional status. Several populations and reference values as also the relationships between handgrip and clinical status, aging, risk of disability and diseases, will be discussed

Handgrip strength

The basic function of the human hand is the manipulation and grasping of various objects in all daily activities, including work activities. This is greatly influenced by strength and manual dexterity. However age, gender and other contexts such as work or leisure activities could influence strength. Handgrip strength, a measure of maximum voluntary force of the hand, has proved to be reliable and valid as an objective parameter to evaluate the functional integrity of the hand as part of the musculoskeletal system. It correlates highly with strength in other muscular groups and is therefore considered as a good indicator of overall muscular strength and functional stress and could be used as a predictor of physical disability. Handgrip strength assessment is simple and reliable and used commonly by several investigators and health professionals, in different contexts (medical, nutritional, rehabilitation, professional settings, engineering, etc.) and with different purposes (research, diagnostic, assessment, etc.). In clinical and rehabilitation settings is of vital importance in the determination of effectiveness of several interventions and for monitoring evolution of diseases. Various ways (methods, techniques and equipments) of collecting information on grip strength have been reported. This chapter will review basic concepts on handgrip function, methodologies of assessment, contexts of application and correlates, such as physical activity, health or nutritional status. Several populations and reference values as also the relationships between handgrip and clinical status, aging, risk of disability and diseases, will be discussed

Handgrip strength measurement protocols for all-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes in more than 3 million participants: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis

Background & aims: Handgrip strength is a strong predictor of the risk of mortality. The objective of this systematic review was to analyse handgrip strength measurement protocols used in all-cause and cause-specific mortality studies. Method: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and Scopus was conducted from inception to February 2022. Prospective cohort studies with objective measures of handgrip strength were included. Studies had to report at least one all-cause, cancer, or cardiovascular mortality outcome. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Meta-regression was used to quantify the bias associated with handgrip strength values in relation to the use of different measurement protocols. Results: Forty-eight studies with a total of 3,135,473 participants (49.6% women) were included. Half of the studies controlled body position, 39.6% arm position, 33.3% elbow position, 12.5% wrist position, 13% handgrip duration, 23% hand-adjustment to dynamometer and 12.5% verbal encouragement. The number of measurements, the laterality of the hand tested, and the estimation method of the handgrip strength value varied considerably between the study protocols. The spline regression model showed a non-linear inverse association between the values of handgrip strength and the number of protocol items controlled. Handgrip strength was higher when the number of measurements per hand or arm position was not controlled. Conversely, handgrip strength was lower when elbow position was not controlled or verbal encouragement were not provided. Conclusion: In general, the protocols used to assess handgrip strength in mortality studies are incomplete and highly heterogeneous. Handgrip strength values were higher when studies controlled fewer handgrip strength measurement protocol variables. There is a need to improve the controlling of handgrip strength measurement protocols and to standardise the method to enhance the accuracy of mortality risk estimates associated with handgrip strength

Low Handgrip Strength Levels in Non-Athlete Adolescents Compared to Adolescent Athletes

Handgrip strength is an important determinant of general health. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the handgrip strength levels in adolescents in terms of sports participation. The second purpose is to determine the association between handgrip strength and other strength parameters. Physically active adolescent athletes (n = 31, 14.26 ± 0.68 years), and the age, pubertal stage and gender-matched non-athlete adolescents (n = 31, 14.21 ± 0.66 years) at the age of 13 to 15 participated in the study. Maximum isometric muscle strength for hand, leg, and back were measured with a handheld dynamometer. Handgrip strength was correlated with leg strength and back strength (r=0.675; r=0.698, respectively). Non-athletes had lower strength values compared to the athletes (98.48 ± 38.25 kg vs 82.94 ± 33.70 kg; 91.48 ± 35.23 kg vs 70.35 ± 25.81 kg; 30.53 ± 7.05 kg; 25.97 ± 5.98 kg for leg, back and handgrip strength, respectively). There was a positive correlation between handgrip strength and other strength parameters in adolescents. Therefore, handgrip strength can be used as a general strength indicator in adolescents. Sports participation in adolescents seems to increase strength parameters notably and may affect health correlatively

Temporal Trends In The Grip Strength Of Children And Adolescents

Objective: To estimate national and international temporal trends in the handgrip strength of children and adolescents, and to examine relationships between trends in handgrip strength and trends in health-related and sociodemographic indicators. Methods: Data were obtained in two ways: (a) through a systematic electronic database search for studies reporting on temporal trends in the handgrip strength of apparently healthy 9–17-year-olds, (b) pearling reference lists, topical systematic reviews and personal libraries, and (c) by examining large national fitness datasets suitable to temporal trends analysis. Sample-weighted temporal trends were estimated using best-fitting regression models relating the year of testing to mean handgrip strength. Post-stratified population-weighted mean changes in percent and standardized handgrip strength were estimated. Pearson’s correlations were used to quantify relationships between linear trends in handgrip strength and linear trends in health-related and sociodemographic indicators. Results: Trend data from 22 studies/datasets representing 2,216,589 children and adolescents from 13 high-, five upper-middle-, and one low-income country collectively showed a moderate improvement in mean handgrip strength of 19.4% (95%CI: 18.4 to 20.4) or 3.8% per decade (95%CI: 3.6 to 4.0) between 1967 and 2017. The international rate of improvement in handgrip strength increased over time, doubling since the 1960s and 1970s. Improvements were larger for children (9–12 years) than adolescents (13–17 years) and similar for boys and girls. Trends differed in magnitude and direction between countries, with most experiencing improvements. Trends in handgrip strength were negligibly-to-moderately related to trends in health-related and sociodemographic indicators. Conclusions: There has been a meaningful improvement in the handgrip strength of children and adolescents since 1967, which has progressively increased in magnitude over time and is suggestive of a corresponding improvement in muscle and bone health. There is a need for improved international surveillance of handgrip strength, especially in children and adolescents from low- and middle-income countries, given the meaningful associations between handgrip strength and health-related outcomes

Reference Values of Absolute and Relative Handgrip Strength in Chilean Schoolchildren with Intellectual Disabilities

Handgrip strength is a simplemeasure of generalmuscle strength and is related to functionality in people with intellectual disabilities. The objective of this research was to describe the normative values of absolute and relative handgrip strength in children, adolescents and adults according to sex. The sample wasmade up of 264 schoolchildren (n = 168men) belonging to five special education schools in Santiago of Chile. The results show higher levels of absolute handgrip strength in males compared to females. The maximum peak of the absolute manual handgrip is reached in females in adolescence with a decrease in adulthood. Relative handgrip strength levels are similar in boys and girls. In females, the relative handgrip strength is similar in childhood and adolescence. Relative handgrip strength declines in both sexes from adolescence to adulthood. The reference values of this study can be used by professionals in the areas of health and education as a guide for interpretation,monitoring and follow-up of Chilean schooled people with intellectual disabilities

Maximal isometric handgrip strength and endurance differences between elite and non-elite young judo athletes

Background and Study Aim: Judo is a combat sport in which the maintenance of handgrip strength is essential because the judokas repeat this action continuously during the struggle for grip. While descriptions of maximal isometric handgrip strength in judokas are relatively common, few data exist concerning the ability to resist successive isometric contractions in the hands and its relation to performance. The aim of this study was the differences and similarities between elite and non-elite young judokas in terms of maximal isometric handgrip strength and their endurance to this strength.Material and Methods: Seventy-three adolescents participants from three national (elite) and one regional team (non-elite) were tested. The maximal isometric handgrip strength was recorded during a maximum test of 6 s with an electronic Digimax dynamometer. The endurance to the isometric handgrip strength was measured by a test consisting of 8 contractions of 10 s each alternating with 10 s of passive rest, and was also recorded with the same machine.Results: The endurance test decreases the relative and mean isometric handgrip strength of male and female judokas (p≤0.01), irrespective of their competitive level. However, male and female elite judokas developed higher levels of relative isometric handgrip strength in the maximum test and during all contractions of the endurance test than non-elite judokas (p≤0.01 for both sexes). In all cases, the non-elite group took longer to reach the maximal isometric handgrip strength (p≤0.05).Conclusions: Maximal isometric handgrip strength and the endurance to this strength were able to distinguish between elite and non-elite young judokas. Coaches should include conditioning programs for both maximal isometric handgrip strength and the ability to resist successive isometric contractions to maximize performance

HUBUNGAN TINGKAT KEBUGARAN KARDIORESPIRASI DAN KEKUATAN GENGGAMAN TANGAN DENGAN SINDROM METABOLIK

Background: The metabolic syndrome, a clustering of metabolic disorders, is associated with morbidity and all-cause mortality. WHO estimated that 23% of men and 12% of women in the world had metabolic syndrome. Several studies had examined that metabolic syndrome was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength. Aim: To investigate the association of cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength with metabolic syndrome. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 31 subjects (23 women and 8 men), aged 40 to 70. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by Harvard step test. Handgrip strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer. NCEP ATP III guideline was used to determine the metabolic syndrome diagnosis. Results: About twenty-five percent (25,81%) of 31 samples had metabolic syndrome. A higher percentage was observed in subjects with low cardiorespiratory fitness levels. The same number was observed in subjects with low and normal handgrip strength. Spearman correlation test between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic syndrome along with Fisher’s exact test between cardiorespiratory fitness categories and metabolic syndrome showed no significant correlation. Meanwhile, Spearman correlation test between handgrip strength and metabolic syndrome showed a significant inverse correlation (r=-0,373; p=0,039). Furthermore, Fisher’s exact test also showed a significant correlation between handgrip strength categories and metabolic syndrome (p=0,026; prevalence ratio 4,17). Conclusions: There was no significant correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was inversely correlated with handgrip strength. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, cardiorespiratory fitness, handgrip strengt

Muscle Strength and Glycaemic Control among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Poor glycaemic control is associated with chronic life-threatening complications. This cross-sectional study examined whether there is an association between handgrip strength and glycaemic control among patients with diabetes. Data on 1058 participants aged 40 and older were collected from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). Muscle strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer, and glycaemic control was assessed using HbA1c. Handgrip strength was presented as age- and gender-specific quartiles, with participants in quartile 1 having the lowest handgrip strength and participants in quartile 4 having the highest handgrip strength. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between handgrip strength and poor glycaemic control among participants with diabetes. Three models, each adjusted to include different variables, were employed. Odds ratio (OR) values revealed no association between handgrip strength and glycaemic control after adjusting for age, gender, and race in model 1. With further adjustment for sedentary activity, income-to-poverty ratio, education, and smoking, patients in quartile 4 of handgrip strength had 0.51 odds of poor glycaemic control (95% CI: 0.27-0.99). However, the reported association above vanished when further adjusted for insulin use (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.35-1.28). In conclusion, findings may indicate an association between glycaemic control and muscle strength. This association may be altered by insulin use; further investigations are required.Qatar University (project No. QUST-1-CHS-2020-11