Assessment Of Hand Grip Strength Research Articles

Instruments for measuring the neuromuscular function domain of vitality capacity in older persons: an umbrella review.

Recently, handgrip, knee extensor and respiratory muscle strength were proposed as candidate biomarkers to assess the neuromuscular function of vitality capacity in older persons. This umbrella review aims to provide an overview of the available instruments and their measurement properties to assess these biomarkers. The databases PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were systematically screened for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting on handgrip, knee extensor or respiratory muscle strength assessments, resulting in 7,555 articles. The COSMIN checklist was used to appraise psychometric properties and the AMSTAR for assessing methodological quality. Twenty-seven systematic reviews were included in this study. Some of the identified reviews described the psychometric properties of the assessment tools. We found five assessment tools that can be used to measure neuromuscular function in the context of healthy ageing. Those are the handheld dynamometer for handgrip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength and regarding respiratory muscle strength, the sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). The handheld dynamometer for hand grip strength, the dynamometer for knee extensor strength, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, MIP and MEP were identified. Therefore, these assessments could be used to identify community-dwelling older adults at risk for a declined neuromuscular function in the context of vitality capacity.

Frailty identification and management among Brazilian healthcare professionals: a survey

BackgroundNational and international guidelines on frailty assessment and management recommend frailty screening in older people. This study aimed to determine how Brazilian healthcare professionals (HCPs) identify and manage frailty in practice.MethodsAn anonymous online survey on the assessment and management of frailty was circulated virtually through HCPs across Brazil.ResultsMost of the respondants used non-specific criteria such as gait speed (45%), handgrip strength (37.6%), and comprehensive geriatric assessment (33.2%). The use of frailty-specific criteria was lower than 50%. The most frequently used criteria were the Frailty Index (19.1%), Frailty Phenotype (13.2%), and FRAIL (12.5%). Only 43.5% felt confident, and 40% had a plan to manage frailty. In the multivariate-adjusted models, training was the most crucial factor associated with assessing frailty, confidence, and having a management plan (p < 0.001 for all). Those with fewer years of experience were more likely to evaluate frailty (p = 0.009). Being a doctor increased the chance of using a specific tool; the opposite was true for dietitians (p = 0.03). Those who assisted more older people had a higher likelihood of having a plan (p = 0.011).ConclusionFrailty assessment was heterogeneous among healthcare professions groups, predominantly using non-specific criteria. Training contributed to frailty assessment, use of specific criteria, confidence, and having a management plan. This data informs the need for standardized screening criteria and management plans for frailty, in association with increasing training at the national level for all the HCPs who assist older people.

Extracellular Water Ratio and Phase Angle as Predictors of Exacerbation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by high-energy metabolism, often leads to malnutrition and is linked to exacerbations. This study investigates the association of malnutrition-related body composition and handgrip strength changes with exacerbation frequencies in COPD patients. We analyzed 77 acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) patients and 82 stable COPD patients, categorized as frequent and infrequent exacerbators. Assessments included body composition, handgrip strength, nutritional risk, dyspnea scale, and COPD assessment. Among AECOPD patients, there were 22 infrequent and 55 frequent exacerbators. Infrequent exacerbators showed better muscle parameters, extracellular water ratio, phase angle, and handgrip strength. Significant differences in intracellular water, total cellular water, protein, and body cell mass were observed between groups. Logistic regression indicated that extracellular water ratio (OR = 1.086) and phase angle (OR = 0.396) were independently associated with exacerbation risk. Thresholds for exacerbation risk were identified as 0.393 for extracellular water ratio and 4.85° for phase angle. In stable COPD, 13 frequent and 69 infrequent exacerbators were compared, showing no significant differences in weight, muscle, and adipose parameters, but significant differences in extracellular water ratio, phase angle, and handgrip strength. These findings suggest that increased exacerbations in COPD patients correlate with higher extracellular water ratios and lower phase angles.

Relationship between Hand grip strength and Hand function in patients with Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundHands are vital and inevitable organs. It's essential to evaluate hand function post-stroke as it is a major source of impairment. Grip strength gives a guide to hand function as a measure of impairment. The modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST) offers an intriguing alternative method for assessing hand grip strength as compared to using hand-held dynamometers. ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate the correlation between hand grip strength and hand function in stroke patients. MethodsA cross-sectional research was carried out on a group of 45 stroke patients, ranging in age from 40 to 70 years. The assessment included the measurement of hand grip strength through the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST), as well as the evaluation of hand function using the Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). Correlation analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient test. ResultsThe outcomes showed a strong to excellent between MST and BBT (r = 0.909, p = 0.000); and between MST and JTHFT Non Dominant Hand (JTHFTNDH, r = −0.669 and p = 0.000). However, there was a weak correlation between MST and JTHFT Dominant Hand, and this correlation was not statistically significant (r = −0.243 and p = 0.108). ConclusionThe findings indicated a relationship between hand grip strength and hand function among stroke patients. MST holds potential as a convenient, objective and cost-effective alternative in clinical settings for evaluating hand grip strength and predicting hand function.

The reliability of a Biometrics device as a tool for assessing hand grip and pinch strength, in a Polish cohort-A prospective observational study.

The aim of the study was to assess the external and internal compatibility of the Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device in the area of hand grip and pinch strength in the Polish population. The testing of hand grip and pinch strength was carried out among 122 healthy students. Two examiners performed hand grip and pinch strength measurements with a Biometrics E-LINK EP9 evaluation system device. Measurements were made for the right and left hands. The same people were tested again two weeks later, under the same conditions. The scores of one rater on the first and second tests were compared for reproducibility, and the scores of the two raters were compared to assess the reliability of the instrument. The measurements were found to be highly consistent both between the investigators and between the tests in the hand grip dynamometer test. The findings show high values of the Pearson's correlation coefficient equal or close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) >0.9. Analysis of pinch strength measurements performed using the pinchmeter also found high values of the Pearson's correlation coefficient close to 1, as well as the interclass correlation coefficient >0.9; this reflects high agreement between the measurements performed by two investigators as well as assessments performed by one investigator at time intervals. These findings were confirmed by analyses performed using Bland-Altman plots. The measurements made with the Biometrics E-link EP9 evaluation system show high internal and external consistency in hand grip and pinch strength assessment. Biometrics E-link EP9 can be recommended for daily clinical practice.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAM IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING (HELPOUT)

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Substance use disorder is a major public health concern and is associated with elevated rates of physical illnesses. It is known that exercise is safe in a substance use population, with engagement in exercise being reported to increase periods of abstinence, metabolic health, and physical capacity. There is little evidence exploring the willingness and capacity of a substance use patient to perform exercise. This study explores the physical activity habits and preferences of substance use patients, their capacity to perform exercise and the impact of acute exercise on psychological outcomes. METHODS Participants accessing opioid maintenance therapy were recruited from drug and alcohol clinics in metropolitan Sydney. 98 participants completed questionnaires assessing recent exercise and diet, quality of life, and anthropometry. Of these, 22 participants also completed fitness testing with changes in mood assessed acutely. RESULTS 46% of participants reported planned physical activity however only 32% met ACSM guidelines. Higher levels of perceived physical health and quality of life had a notable positive association with volume of planned exercise completed. 95% of the cohort were interested in participating in an exercise program, with a lack of motivation and having an injury being the primary barriers to participation. 19.6% reported levels of extreme pain compared to 6.4% of the Australian population. Exercise capacity varied, with average performance in upper body endurance and hand grip strength assessments, but poor capacity in lower limb strength, balance and functional capacity. An acute bout of exercise lead to an increase in positive affect (p&amp;lt;0.001) and a decrease in negative affect (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Exercise therapy has the potential to offer numerous benefits to patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, with planned physical activity correlation with improved physical and mental health outcomes. Clinical support from exercise physiologists is needed to assist in overcoming barriers to exercise and managing comorbid medical conditions.

Associations Between Grip Strength and Cerebral Hemodynamics in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

Aerobic fitness and aerobic exercise are widely accepted as having protective effects on cognitive function and brain health, with less understood regarding muscular fitness and resistance exercise. Strength is beneficially associated with cognitive function, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain understudied and may relate to cerebral hemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between strength and cerebrovascular hemodynamics in young and middle-aged men and women. It was hypothesized that greater strength would be associated with better cerebral hemodynamics (greater mean blood velocity, lower pulsatility, greater pulsatile damping). Ninety-two generally healthy adults between 18-64 years old (36±16 yrs; BMI 25.9±4.0 kg/m2; n=39 women) underwent a hand grip strength assessment and resting cerebrovascular measures. Grip strength was measured via dynamometer and recorded as the highest value of 3 attempts. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) mean velocity and pulsatility index (PI) were measured via transcranial Doppler. Pulsatile damping was calculated as the ratio between the common carotid artery and MCA PI. Mean arterial pressure was assessed via an oscillometric blood pressure cuff. No significant associations were observed between relative grip strength and MCA mean velocity (r=-0.15), MCA PI (r=0.05), or MAP (r=0.07) after adjusting for age. Greater relative grip strength, however, was associated with greater pulsatile damping after adjusting for age (r=0.21; p&lt;0.05). This relationship appeared to be driven by weak associations within each sex (men, r=0.10; women, r=0.02) that were not statistically significant on their own. Our preliminary results suggest there are no strong relations between grip strength and cerebral hemodynamics among generally healthy young and middle-aged adults after accounting for the effects of age and sex. Future studies should examine sex-specific associations with a larger sample, consider disease states related to cerebrovascular health, and include more comprehensive assessments of muscular strength and performance (e.g., power). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Muscle strength during pregnancy and postpartum in adolescents and adults.

Adolescent childbirth is associated with worse physical function over the long-term. Differential loss of muscle strength during pregnancy and postpartum for adolescents compared to adults may be one explanation for this, but research examining these differences is lacking. The objective of this study as to assess hand grip strength and hip adduction muscle strength in adolescents and adults during pregnancy and postpartum. A prospective cohort study was carried out with adolescent (13 to 18 years) and adult (23 to 28 years) primigravid women. Assessments were performed at three timepoints: before the 16th gestational week, during the third trimester, and between the fourth and sixth week postpartum. Hand grip strength (continuous and muscle weakness if ≤ 20.67 kgf) and hip adductor measures (continuous and muscle weakness if ≤ 13.8 kgf) were assessed using dynamometry. Generalized estimating equations modelled longitudinal relationships between muscle weakness and age group. More adolescents had hip adductor weakness than adults in the third trimester of pregnancy (62.5% vs. 31.8%, p < 0.005), which was corroborated by the longitudinal analyses. For all women, there were higher odds of hip adductor weakness in the third trimester (OR = 4.35; p< 0.001) and postpartum (OR = 9.45; p < 0.001) compared to the 16th gestational week. No significant difference in HGS was observed between age groups or across the different timepoints. The higher proportion of hip adductor weakness among adolescents may indicate a need for resistance training during and after pregnancy and physical therapy if weakness or injury is noted.

Effect of low level laser therapy versus pulsed ultrasound on postpartum carpal tunnel syndrome

Background. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a major health issue that can impede postpartum women's activities and skills in both their personal and professional lives. Purpose. To compare the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and pulsed ultrasound (US) in relieving postpartum CTS. Methods. Forty-eight women with mild to moderate CTS were divided into three groups. In addition to wrist exercises, Group (A) (n = 16) received LLLT, Group (B) (n = 16) received pulsed US, and Group (C) (n = 16) performed wrist exercises alone. For all groups, the treatment sessions were applied to the affected hand, 3 sessions weekly for four weeks. All postpartum women were evaluated pre- and post-treatment via a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Boston Questionnaire of CTS (BCTS) for diagnosing CTS symptoms, electromyography for measuring motor conduction velocity (MCV), sensory conduction velocity (SCV), motor distal latency (MDL), and sensory peak latency (SPL), and a hand grip dynamometer for assessing hand grip strength. Results. All measured variables were significantly improved in the three groups post-treatment compared to pre-treatment. Between-groups comparison showed a highly significant decrease in the VAS, BCTS, and SPL and a significant increase of SCV and hand grip strength between groups A and C in favor of group A and between groups B and C in favor of group B, while the significant change in MDL and MCV was found between groups A and C only in favor of group A (p &lt; 0.05), with no significant change in all outcome measures between groups A and B (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion. Either LLLT or pulsed US are useful modalities that can be used as an effective conservative therapy for alleviating postpartum CTS.

Combination of neuromuscular block monitoring and hand grip strength assessment for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery

Relevance. The hand grip strength measurement together with neuromuscular block monitoring played an important role during surgery. They both helped in losing less time during surgery and also facilitate the task of the surgeon. The aim of this study was to reduce time on intubation, facilitate the task of the surgeon and to limit post-surgical pain. In rehabilitation, hand grip strength helps in determining further recuperation measures after asurgery. There are three fundamental principles for an anesthesiologist to ensure that the patient after combined endotracheal anesthesia can be extubated, the first one is to ask the patient to move his head forward, the second one is to ask the patient whether the intubation tube is disturbing him in his mouth and the third most important one is to make the patient hold his wrist very firmly. Materials and Methods. Monitoring of muscle relaxant on induction, intra and post-surgery is carried out using aTOF Watch SX in coordination with handgrip strength measurement on 46 patients aged from 18 to 60 years of BMI of 18-30 kg/m² 15min before endotracheal intubation and 15min, 45min and 210min post extubation by using adynamometer “MEGEON 34090” to help us understand whether after extubation muscle strength changes and to what extent. Also, pre-anesthesiology protocol, combined endotracheal protocol, Microsoft excel advanced, monitoring of hemodynamics, ECG, PEEP, PCO2, PO2, respiratory volume using Drager Fabius. Results and Discussion. The results showed that to reach deep muscle relaxation both atracurium benzilate (FKP Kursk Biofabric company, Kursk, Russia) at TOF 0 took 258.5± 83.5 secs and Cisatracurium benzilate (ZAO Obninsk Chemical pharmaceutical company, Obninsk, Russia) at TOF0-252.4±100.1 secs in emergency patients and basically hand grip strength also was lesser as compared to planned cholecystectomy patients. Conclusion. Rehabilitation was necessary for patients undergoing massive abdominal emergency surgeries underlying the fact that on apain scale 10/10 post surgery, further treatments should be implemented to reduce pain, reduce residual neuromuscular block and muscle weakness after extubation at TOF 90-95%.

Association of Handgrip Strength with Hip Fracture and Falls in Community-dwelling Middle-aged and Older Adults: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study.

Hip fracture and falls are significant health concerns. Handgrip strength (HGS) is closely associated with overall muscle strength and physical health. However, the longitudinal relationship between HGS and the risk of hip fractures and falls remains unclear, particularly regarding gender differences. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the association between HGS and the risk of hip fracture and falls in individuals aged 45 years and above, considering gender-specific differences over a 4-year period. This study included 10,092 participants (4471 men and 5621 women) aged 45 years and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Incidents of hip fractures and falls were recorded during a 4-year follow-up, along with various demographic and clinical factors. Participants were categorized into five groups based on their HGS quintiles. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the relationship between HGS and hip fracture/fall risk. During the 4-year follow-up period, 223 cases of hip fracture (2.2%) and 1831 cases of falls (18.1%) were documented. Notably, higher HGS demonstrated a strong inverse association with the risk of hip fracture in both males and females (p < 0.05). In comparison to the lowest HGS quintile, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for hip fracture were 0.46 (0.27-0.78) for the total population, 0.4 (0.19-0.81) for males and 0.48 (0.23-0.98) for females in the highest HGS quintile. Furthermore, a profound and statistically significant negative correlation between HGS and falls was detected (p < 0.05). The adjusted ORs for falls in the highest HGS quintile, compared to the lowest quintile, were 0.62 (0.51-0.76) in the overall population, 0.59 (0.44-0.78) in males, and 0.78 (0.62-0.99) in females. Our findings highlight the significant inverse association between HGS and the risk of hip fracture and falls in both males and females aged 45 years and above. Assessing handgrip strength may serve as a valuable tool for predicting fracture and fall risk.

Effectiveness of different tools for malnutrition in the assessment of patients with cirrhosis

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition using traditional measures of nutritional assessments like body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skin fold thickness (TSF), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), hand grip strength (HGS) and subjective global assessments (SGA) among cirrhotic patients referred for liver transplantation (LT). MethodsThe study was conducted among 215 cirrhotic patients referred for LT at a tertiary care hospital. Patients were enrolled between July 2021 and October 2022 to assess the prevalence of malnutrition. Patient's demographic details, clinical history, BMI using dry weight, MAMC, HGS, SGA score and disease severity were assessed. ResultsChronic alcoholism was the main causative factor for cirrhosis, followed by viral infection. 58% of cirrhotic patients were moderately to severely malnourished based on SGA, 12% were undernourished based on BMI, 91% had low MAC, and 94% had low HGS/muscle strength indicating malnutrition. Low MAC (p = 0.048) and SGA (p = 0.000) were associated with CTP – B and C class, and low MAC (p = 0.046), low TSF (p = 0.005), and SGA (p = 0.000), were associated with MELD Na score >15. Low MAC (p = 0.011) and SGA (P = 0.000) were associated with mortality, although 78% of patients had MAC within the normal range. A strong association exists between malnutrition and complications, liver disease severity, and death. ConclusionIn patients with chronic liver diseases, SGA performed well as a good predictor of malnutrition, this might be because SGA analyzes various domains which can be affected in chronic liver disease. Assessing malnutrition early may help in initiating appropriate medical nutritional therapy.

Association of Endogenous Testosterone with Physical Fitness Measures during Firefighter Occupational Health Evaluations.

Firefighting is a physically demanding profession associated with unacceptably high on-duty cardiovascular mortality. Low endogenous total testosterone (TT) is an emerging cardiometabolic (CM) risk factor in men, but limited data exists on its interactions with physical fitness (PF). Data from occupational health and fitness assessments of 301 male career firefighters (FFs) were analyzed. TT was categorized as low (<264 ng/dL), borderline (264-399 ng/dL), and reference (400-916 ng/dL). PF tests included cardiorespiratory fitness (submaximal treadmill), body fat percentage (BF%), push-ups, plank, and handgrip strength assessments. In the crude analyses, FFs in the low TT group had worse muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness measures compared to the referent group. However, after adjusting for age and BF%, none of the PF differences remained statistically significant. Similarly, the odds of less-fit FFs (PF performance below median values) having low TT were higher compared to the fitter ones only before adjusting for age and BF%. Therefore, in the final adjusted model, there was no significant association between TT and PF. Our data suggest that age and body fat confound the association between PF and TT. Low TT and poor PF are important components of FFs' CM risk profile, and there is potential benefit to considering TT screening as part of a comprehensive occupational health program that manages performing medical evaluations and provides education and preventative programming.

Comparison of Hand Grip Strength in Hypertensive and Non-Hypertensive Middle-Aged People

Background: Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, affecting millions globally. Previous studies have suggested an inverse relationship between hand grip strength (HGS) and hypertension, indicating the potential of HGS as a non-invasive marker for cardiovascular health. However, research exploring this relationship within the middle-aged population of Pakistan remains limited. Objective: This study aims to compare hand grip strength between hypertensive and non-hypertensive middle-aged individuals and to assess the potential of HGS as a predictive marker for hypertension. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from August 2022 to February 2023, involving 220 participants (110 hypertensive and 110 non-hypertensive), aged 35-45 years, at PSRD and Jinnah Hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Hand grip strength was measured using a CAMRY digital dynamometer, and blood pressure was assessed with a Certeza sphygmomanometer. Participants were excluded if they had wrist joint problems, neurological disorders, a history of frozen shoulders, limb fractures, cognitive impairments, diabetes, or were pregnant. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing independent sample t-tests with a significance level set at p&lt;0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 39.81±3.16 years. Hypertensive individuals showed significantly lower hand grip strength compared to non-hypertensive individuals, with mean dominant HGS at 34.10±8.75 kg for hypertensives and 39.40±7.37 kg for non-hypertensives. Non-dominant HGS followed a similar pattern, with hypertensives at 31.87±8.75 kg and non-hypertensives at 36.97±7.57 kg. Additionally, a higher proportion of males was observed in the hypertensive group compared to the non-hypertensive group. Conclusion: The study found a significant association between lower hand grip strength and hypertension among middle-aged individuals, supporting the potential of HGS as a screening tool for hypertension risk. This finding underscores the importance of incorporating hand grip strength assessment into routine health evaluations to identify individuals at higher risk of hypertension.

Influence of Physical Activity on Health-Related Fitness in Young Adults: An Observational Research.

Health-related fitness directly depends on the level of physical activity of the individual. Inactivity contributes to around 3.3% of all deaths, making the lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyles among the young generation a current source of concern. There is a paucity of research on the association between PA and health-related physical fitness among young people. In the perspective of this, the objective of this research was to find out the effect of PA levels on physical fitness in healthy adults. A total of 419 students between the ages of 18 and 25 participated in this cross-sectional survey. The "Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)" was used to evaluate the PA. Their body fat percentage was measured using a skin fold caliper, followed by measurement of VO2max using a gas analyzer and hand grip strength and endurance assessment with the help of a computerized dynamometer. For statistical analysis, Karl Pearson's correlation coefficients and the ANOVA test were utilized. PA was positively correlated with VO2 max (r=0.429), and handgrip strength (r=0.408) while negatively correlated with body fat % (r=-.315). VO2 max, body fat, and hand grip strength differ significantly amongst participants having different physical activity levels. (p-value =<0.05). This research concludes that PA is associated with physical fitness. PA will lead to a definite improvement in overall physical fitness. With the help of the results of this study, young adults can be motivated for physical fitness.

An Assessment of Maximal Isometric Hand Grip Strength and Upper Body Explosive Strength and Endurance in Various Ball Sports

Background. Playing with the ball and using hand-arm strength and power are very crucial for ball game players. It takes arm force and endurance, as well as isometric hand grip strength, to accomplish ball-game skills. Study purpose. The aim of the study was to evaluate maximal isometric hand grip strength, arm and shoulder explosive strength, and endurance in basketball, handball, and volleyball athletes. Materials and methods. The study randomly selected 135 male athletes, including 45 basketball, 45 handball, and 45 volleyball players, aged 17 to 24, all competing at the inter-university level. Hand grip strength (HGS) for both dominant (DHGS) and non-dominant (NDHGS) hands was measured using a JAMAR hydraulic hand grip dynamometer. An over-the-head seated medicine ball throw (SMBT) test assessed explosive arm strength, while a push-up (PU) test evaluated muscular strength and endurance. Results. The F-values (F) (2, 132) of DHGS, NDHGS, SMBT, and PU tests among basketball, handball, and volleyball players were .499 (p = .608); 1.166 (p = .315); 5.595 (p = .005); and 10.339 (p = .000), respectively. The results indicated that no notable distinctions were observed in DHGS and NDHGS among athletes in the three sports. However, considerable differences were found in the SMBT and PU tests. Conclusions. The study concluded that basketball, handball, and volleyball players’ maximum isometric hand grip strength was nearly the same, but in both cases, the handball player's mean value was superior to others. Upper-body explosive power, muscular strength, and endurance showed distinct differences from one group to another.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HAND GRIP STRENGTH AMONG OLDER ADULTS—FINDINGS FROM THE LASI STUDY INDIA

Abstract Objective To identify the factors associated with handgrip strength among older adults in India. Methods Data for the study were drawn from the baseline survey of Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017–18). This study was conducted on respondents aged 60 years and above with a total sample of 27,347 older adults (men-13,241 and women-14,118). The study assessed handgrip strength using a handheld Smedley’s Hand Dynamometer. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test was used to measure the mean difference in the handgrip strengths according to presence of risk factors. Results The mean handgrip strength was 29.76 + 11.23 kgs for both the genders. There was statistically significant difference in the mean handgrip strength of men (36.26 + 10.83 kg) and women (23.70 + 7.65 kg respectively). Significantly lower handgrip strength was observed among participants in rural area (29.58 + 11.20 kg), difficulty in activities of daily living (28.24 + 10.97 kg), low level physical activity, balance impairment (21.09 + 8.83 kg) slowness in walking (25.14 + 9.87 kg), history of falls (28.24 + 10.97 kg), and presence of bone and joint disease (27.44 + 10.60 kg) as compared to their counterparts. Conclusion The study contributed to a better understanding of factors associated with HGS, and thus, the HGS is recommended as a section in the health evaluation among high-risk older adults as the strategy of disease control and prevention.

RACE AND SEX DIFFERENCES IN RELATIONS OF DIABETES BIOMARKERS WITH PHYSICAL FUNCTIONING BEFORE DIABETES ONSET

Abstract It remains unclear if declines in physical functioning linked to Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) occur even before T2DM onset. We examined the longitudinal associations of T2DM biomarkers with upper and lower extremity strength among adults without T2DM at baseline. Participants were 1,572 African American (AA) and White adults (M(SD) age at baseline = 47.3 (9.7) years, 55% female, 53% AA) from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, assessed on up to 3 time points between 2004-2017. Participants provided blood samples for measurement of fasting glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and completed dominant and nondominant handgrip strength assessment, and a chair stands task to assess upper and lower extremity strength, respectively. Linear mixed effects regression models estimating relations of HbA1c on age-related change and adjusting for race, sex, literacy, and poverty status revealed significant four-way interactions of HbA1c, race, sex, and age (B = -.2.59, t(2853) = -2.0 p = 0.04), and to a lesser extent of fasting glucose, race, sex, and age (B = -.07, t(2863) = -1.84 p = 0.06) on change in the chair stands task, but not on handgrip strength (ps &amp;gt; 0.29). Among younger AA and White men, and younger White women, increasing HbA1c was related to worse lower extremity strength. However, among AA women, and older White women, increasing HBA1c was related to better lower extremity strength. Our findings suggest differential relations of worse glucose regulation on physical functioning amongst African American and White men and women.

Physical activity has a stronger correlation with arterial stiffness than strength, balance, or BMI in an older population.

Background: Arterial stiffness is associated with an array of debilitating health conditions. While exercise typically has beneficial effects on both arterial stiffness and overall health, more research is needed to understand the associations of different types of fitness indices with arterial stiffness. Aim: To investigate the relationship between balance, strength, cardiovascular fitness and physical activity with arterial stiffness (as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in older adults. Method: Eighty retirement-village residents (24 males, 56 females, age: 78.2 ± 6.4years, weight: 69.4 ± 12.5kg, height: 162.9 ± 8.5cm) completed the Yale Physical Activity Survey, PWV measurement, 30-s sit-to-stand leg strength test, hand grip strength assessment, 4-stage balance test, and a 6-min walk fitness test. The number of exiting risk factors (smoking, previous heart incidents, previous stroke(s), having hypertension, or taking anti-hypertension medication) were tallied. Pearson's correlations were used to assess the relationship between PWV and health and fitness parameters. Results were interpreted using qualitative inference. Results: The number of risk factors (r = 0.57, p < 0.001), age (r = 0.51, p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.50, p = 0.001) had strong, harmful associations with PWV. Total physical activity minutes/week (r = -0.31 p = 0.01), total energy expenditure Kcal/week (r = -0.30, p = 0.01), and the 6-min walk test (r = -0.29, p = 0.01) had a moderate, beneficial association with PWV, while sit-to-stand (r = -0.27, p = 0.02) and balance (r = -0.27, p = 0.01) had a weak, beneficial association with PWV. Hand grip strength (r = 0.02, p = 0.94) and body mass index (r = -0.04, p = 0.75) had no significant associations with PWV. Discussion: All measured fitness indices had beneficial associations with PWV. However, having more risk factors, increased age, and higher systolic blood pressure had significant (harmful) associations with PWV in our older population. Conclusion: Controlling cardiovascular risk factors, especially high systolic blood pressure, is likely to have the largest beneficial effect on PWV. Improving general physical activity, including walking capacity, may prove beneficial in improving PWV in an older population.

Marital dissatisfaction and functional performance in older adults: Heterogeneity in the association by educational level

RationaleThe marital relationship is an important source of the well-being of older adults. Despite existing literature on marital dissatisfaction and adverse health outcomes, little is known about whether marital dissatisfaction is associated with functional performance in older adults. ObjectiveDrawing on stress process model and health behavior model, this study examined the longitudinal association between marital dissatisfaction and older adults’ functional performance. Furthermore, we sought to investigate whether this association varies based on educational level. MethodsUsing seven waves (12 years) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) from 2006 to 2019, this study estimated fixed effects models to account for unobserved individual-level confounders. Objectively measured hand grip strength and subjective assessments of vision, hearing, masticatory functions, as well as limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were used to evaluate functional performance. An interaction model was used to determine whether educational level moderates the association. ResultsFixed effects estimates revealed that marital dissatisfaction is negatively associated with grip strength, as well as masticatory, vision, and hearing functions, while also showing a positive association with limitations in ADLs and IADLs. The results of this study provided evidence on heterogeneity in the association by educational level. The associations between marital dissatisfaction and functional performance, including grip strength, mastication, and hearing, were driven primarily by those with older adults with a higher level of education. ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that marital dissatisfaction is a robust predictor of functional performance in older adults. Efforts to address marital dissatisfaction has the potential to improve functional performance, particularly for older adults with higher levels of education.