Abstract
Positive association between physical activity and spirometry has been reported to be possibly attributed to handgrip strength (HGS), particularly in the elderly. However, the nature of the association between HGS and lung function in young adults is still unclear. This study investigated the prediction of lung function using HGS in young adults. A cross‐sectional analytical study was carried out on four hundred (400) apparently healthy medical students who are aged 16–30 years. Handgrip strength (dominant and nondominant) and lung function (FEV 1, FVC and PEFR) of these students were assessed using Jamar dynamometer and a portable spirometer, respectively. Data were analyzed using inferential statistics. Independent t‐test showed that the mean values of HGS and lung function of the males were significantly higher than the females (P < 0.0005). The relationship between HGS and lung function indices was significant (P < 0.0005) in all the participants but strongest for FEV 1 (r = 0.64). The regression analysis showed that in addition to gender and height, HGS was a significant (P < 0.0005) predictor of lung function. Regression equations were also proposed for the prediction of these lung function indices using HGS, gender and height. This study is the first to report HGS as a significant predictor of pulmonary function in healthy young adults living in a low‐resource country. Hence, its use could enhance medical practice in being an indicator of lung function status in healthy young adults.
Highlights
Handgrip strength (HGS) is the force produced due to joint activities of the deep-seated and superficial hand and forearm muscles during gripping (Koley & Kumaar, 2011)
The independent t-test showed that the mean FEV1 (3.36±0.57), forced vital capacity (FVC) (3.73±0.82) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (7.71±1.77) values were significantly higher for males compared to females
Assessment of HGS suggest that the dominant handgrip strength (DHGS, 39.88±8.40kgf) and nondominant handgrip strength (NDHGS, 35.95±8.10 kgf) for males were significantly higher than females (t= 19.159 and 19.005 respectively)
Summary
Handgrip strength (HGS) is the force produced due to joint activities of the deep-seated and superficial hand and forearm muscles during gripping (Koley & Kumaar, 2011). It is an inexpensive, non-invasive and objective indicator of an individual’s health status and muscle strength (Ortega et al, 2012). Gender, height, weight, ethnicity, nutritional status and levels of physical activity have been reported to influence handgrip strength (Adedoyin et al, 2009; Kubota & Demura, 2011; Koopman et al, 2015; Manoharan et al, 2015). This study investigated the prediction of lung function using HGS in young adults
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