RELATIONSHIP OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND HANDGRIP STRENGTH IN MILITARY FLYING MEDICAL PERSONNEL

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between nutritional status and handgrip strength (HGS) of Polish military medical flying personnel. Methods: The study was conducted among all active members of the personnel (71 males, 13 females) in Poland. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric and body composition measurements. Results: Overweight was diagnosed in 47.6% and obesity in 11,9% members. Abdominal obesity was diagnosed in 38.6% of men and 23.1% of women. In women, the mean HGS of the right and the left hand, respectively, was 33.08 ± 3.57kg and 33.69 ± 2.95kg. For men, mean HGS of right and left hand were 55.79 ± 7.62kg and 54.63 ± 7.93kg, respectively. Furthermore, for men HGS was positively correlated with skeletal muscle mass (r = 0.39), lower limb length (r = 0.33) and chest circumference measured on inspiration (r = 0.33), but not on expiration. There was no significant correlation between HGS, age, and BMI. Conclusions: Our study adds to the body of evidence demonstrating an alarmingly high proportion of soldiers with diagnosed obesity. Military medical flight personnel had higher mean handgrip strength as compared to reference values in the male group and in the female group in the left hand. Handgrip strength appears to be related to skeletal muscle mass, similarly to other studies in the general population.