Grip strength predicts physical function in nursing home residents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship of grip strength and physical function in institutionalized older people. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven nursing home residents of seven different long-stay institutions underwent evaluation of body composition, cognitive function, grip strength, mobility, balance (balance scale test BERG and single-leg stance test) and gait speed. RESULTS: Volunteers had no impairment of cognitive function, functional mobility, balance or gait speed. Men had higher grip strength and achieved higher scores in BERG. Fittest volunteers (i.e., P75 to P100) had better functional mobility, BERG and gait speed; less fit volunteers (i.e., P0 to P25) were taller and had better gait speed. The grip strength was independently associated with functional mobility and balance in the single-leg stance test only in females. The cognitive function (female, P25 to P75, male, total sample) and age (male, total sample) showed a tendency to be mediators of functional mobility. Age and body weight seem to confound the gait speed, especially for females (P25 to P75), while cognitive function confound it in males (P75 to P100). However, age and body weight are significantly associated with gait speed (female, total sample). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that grip strength was independently associated with functional mobility and balance of institutionalized older women.