Handgrip Strength Test Research Articles

Hand grip strength test is not an indicator of flexibility performance among teenagers

There are some opinions that say the hand grip strength test can be a good predictor of the overall fitness of an individual. How correct is that? Thus, the main aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between hand grip strength test results with flexibility level as measured by the sit-and-reach test. For the purpose of this study 69 teenagers aged 18 to 23 years old mean ± SD = (19 ± 2.7), with body weight mean ± SD = (64.49 ± 13.47 Kg) and height mean ± SD (163.82 ± 8) have been recruited voluntarily. All participants performed two times hand grip test on their dominant hand, and the best performance was selected for further analysis. Participants then performed three trials of the sit-and-reach test with only the best performance recorded for analysis. The Pearson-correlation was used to analyse the data. Results indicated weak or no correlation between hand grip strength performance with sit-and-reach performance (r = 0.08, p > .01). It can be said that muscular strength performance measured by hand grip strength test may not be used to also indicate flexibility performance. Further studies are suggested to be performed on other age groups and other fitness components.

Use of a novel bluetooth-connected device to measure handgrip strength: A practical tool to help healthcare professionals identify adults at nutritional risk

Background and AimsLow muscle strength is strongly tied to poor nutrition status, and nutritional interventions are likewise linked to maintenance and restoration of muscle strength and functional status. Nutrition plays a vital role in muscle mass, strength, and function, and losses in muscle (strength, function, and mass) are associated with poor health outcomes and added costs for healthcare services. For this study of outpatients, the main objective was to identify those at risk for low muscle strength, as evidenced by low handgrip strength (HGS) measures with risk stratified by age and sex. MethodsThis was a two-part study on HGS measures in adults attending outpatient clinics in India. In part one, we conducted HGS tests on dominant and non-dominant hands of patients who qualified for the study. For HGS measures, we used a validated tool, the SQUEGG device, a smart handgrip trainer, along with its companion Bluetooth-connected app, the Muscle Strength Assessment Tool (MSAT) app. In part two, we collected Healthcare Practitioners’ (HCP) feedback via a short digital survey on the use of the SQUEGG device + the MSAT app to do HGS risk screening as an indicator of needed nutritional intervention. ResultsNearly a third of community-living adults in India exhibited low HGS among the 3036 sampled. At each age stratum, dominant-hand HGS in women was lower by 25% to 35% compared to men. Among 353 HCPs, 293 (83%) provided insights via survey, and 85% of surveyed HCPs (n=249) strongly agreed or agreed that the SQUEGG device + MSAT app helped them identify HGS issues among their patients, and 85% (n=248) agreed or strongly agreed they would like to continue using the SQUEGG device + MSAT app to inform their practice. Nearly all surveyed HCPs (98%, n=288) recommended an oral nutritional supplement (ONS) to their patients with identified low HGS. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that HCPs would like to continue use of the SQUEGG device + MSAT app as it helped them identify adult patients who had decreased HGS (about 30% of the study population), in turn identifying opportunities to use nutritional interventions such as ONS to address nutrition shortfalls and to restore functional status.

Effects of active exergames on physical performance in older people: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

PROSPERO, CRD42023391694.

Physical Activity Changes From Before to During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Finland.

This study aimed to compare community-dwelling older adults' physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 to their PA levels 2years before and investigate associations between earlier physical performance and PA levels over the follow-up. Participants' (n = 809, initial age 75-85years) self-reported PA was assessed at baseline in 2017-2018 and May/June 2020 as total weekly minutes of walking and vigorous PA. Physical performance was assessed at baseline using the maximal handgrip strength and Short Physical Performance Battery tests. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a median change in total weekly minutes of walking and vigorous PA among all participants was + 20.0 (interquartile range: -60.0 to 120.0, p < .001)min per week compared with 2years earlier. Higher baseline Short Physical Performance Battery total scores were associated with higher total weekly minutes of walking and vigorous PA over the follow-up in men and women, and better handgrip strength in women.

Variations of skill-related fitness components in normal and overweight high school children

Adolescence means "stepping into adult life." It is a prepubertal phase where the transmutation of childhood into adulthood occurs and the physical and psychosomatic growth of a child takes place. This study has focused on Normal &amp; Over Weight in school going children aged between 10 and 19 years, and their status in skill related fitness. The minimum sample size for each group = 100. The subjects taken into the study were adolescent children with an age group of 10-19 years. For the study, all the students were taken from school who were studying between the 5th standard to 12th standards. After screening the children, the eligible students were randomly called to have their body composition assessed class and section-wise. The children were divided into two groups based on their Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI was assessed with the weight in kgs divided by height in meters square of the child. The children were divided into two group and skill fitness outcome measures namely Broad Jump Test (BJT); Hand Grip Strength Test (HGS); Bent Arm Hang Test (BAH) were used. This study concluded that the physical fitness that includes skill fitness was decreased in Overweight than Normal weight adolescent boys and girls.

Handgrip Strength Predicts Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common cancer with a poor prognosis and is associated with a high prevalence of cachexia, a metabolic syndrome of muscle wasting due to complex mechanisms. In addition to loss of muscle mass, cancer patients also experience functional deterioration. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is an association between muscle mass and function and clinical outcomes, particularly survival. We performed a prospective cohort study including all patients with PDAC at Monash Health from March 2016 to December 2017. We conducted body composition analysis for myopenia and handgrip strength testing. We constructed Kaplan-Meier curves to estimate whether myopenia and low hand grip strength were associated with poorer survival. Myopenia was not associated with a significant difference in PDAC-specific survival (log-rank P = 0.60). However, low handgrip strength was associated with significantly worse PDAC-specific survival compared with other patients (log-rank hazard ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.09; P = 0.004). The relationship between survival in PDAC and handgrip strength, but not anatomical muscle mass, suggests that functional testing of strength may be important in prognostication of patients with PDAC, alongside existing tools such as the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.

Mortality and disability risk among older adults unable to complete grip strength and physical performance tests: a population-based cohort study from China

BackgroundThe link between low grip strength, diminished physical performance, and adverse health outcomes in older adults has been well-established. However, the impact of older adults who cannot complete these tests on disability and mortality rates remains unexplored without longitudinal study.MethodsWe collected data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants aged 60–101 were enrolled at baseline. We analyzed the prevalence of populations unable to complete handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed (GS), and five times chair stand test (FTCST). Completing risk models were used to estimate the risk of mortality and disability over seven years.ResultsA total of 3,768 participants were included in the analysis. The percentage of older adults unable to complete the GS and FTCST tests increased notably with age, from 2.68 to 8.90% and 2.60–20.42%, respectively. The proportion of older people unable to perform the HGS was relatively stable, ranging from 1.40 to 3.66%. Compared to older adults who can complete these tests, those who cannot perform FTCST face a significantly higher risk of mortality, with 49.1% higher risk [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.491, 95% CI = 1.156, 1.922; subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) = 1.491, 95%CI = 1.135,1.958)]. Participants who were unable to complete the GS test had a higher risk of developing ADL disability, regardless of whether they were compared to the lowest-performing group (HR = 1.411, 95%CI = 1.037,1.920; SHR = 1.356, 95%CI = 1.030,1.785) or those who can complete the GS (HR = 1.727, 95%CI = 1.302,2.292; SHR = 1.541, 95%CI = 1.196,1.986). No statistically significant difference in the risk of developing ADL disability among older adults who were unable to complete the HGS test compared with either the poorest performing group (HR = 0.982, 95% CI = 0.578, 1.666; SHR = 1.025, 95% CI = 0.639, 1.642) or those who were able to complete the HGS test (HR = 1.008, 95% CI = 0.601, 1.688; SHR = 0.981, 95% CI = 0.619, 1.553). The risk of all-cause mortality was not significantly different for older adults who were unable to complete the HGS test compared to those with the worst performance (HR = 1.196, 95%CI = 0.709–2.020; SHR = 1.196, 95%CI = 0.674, 2.124) or those who were able to complete the test (HR = 1.462, 95%CI = 0.872–2.450; SHR = 1.462, 95%CI = 0.821,2.605).ConclusionThe risks of adverse events faced by older adults unable to complete the tests vary, indicating the necessity for future research to conduct separate analyses on this high-risk population.

Assessing muscle strength following massive weight loss: a preliminary study in patients who desired body contouring surgery

Background Sarcopenia, which is commonly associated with ageing, is increasingly prevalent among individuals with significant obesity and massive weight loss (MWL). This study aimed to evaluate the muscle strength of MWL patients who desired body contouring surgery (BCS) due to the excess skin. Methods This prospective study enrolled 23 patients with MWL who were eligible for BCS. Participants underwent three distinct muscle strength tests with age- and gender-related references: the hand grip strength test (HGS), the squatting test, and the dynamic muscle strength of the body (DMSoB). Results The cohort comprised 18 (78.3%) women and five (21.8%) men with a mean age of 45.7 years and body mass index (BMI) of 26.9 kg/m2. Among the participants, 17 (73.9%) had previously undergone bariatric surgery (BS group), while six (26.1%) had achieved weight loss through the non-surgery method (non-BS-group). In the HGS test, 87% of the participants reached only the lowest (poor) or second lowest (fair) fitness levels. In the squatting test, 73.8% of the participants reached above the intermediate level or better. Only 8.7% of the participants had a lower fitness level. In the dynamic muscle strength test, 69.7% of the participants reached the lowest (poor) level. Conclusions This preliminary study showed that patients with prior MWL exhibited lower muscle strength than the age- and gender-matched general population. In particular, the HGS results suggested the possibility of sarcopenia.

Physical functional performance, body composition, strength, and cognitive function in aged 60 years and older from North of Brazil

This study aims to establish a set of reference data for Amazonas’ older women based in younger adult's value. Two-hundred and thirteen women did partially (handgrip strength test, 6-m walking test, and timed up and go) and 126 did all the measurements (MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment), anthropometric and body composition measure, SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) questionnaire, handgrip strength; and physical functional performance (timed up and go and 6-m walk test). This is a cross sectional study with the sarcopenia diagnostic criteria based on t-score made from younger healthy (reference group). We showed cutoff changed in all measure compared to worldwide parameters, calf circumference should be <32 cm, handgrip strength test <20.7 kgf, appendicular segment muscular mass <5,37 kg/m2, 6-m walking test velocity <1.86 m/s, and timed up and go time >6.65 s. In summary, health professionals and researchers involved with older adult women should consider specific population outcomes application, positive-false diagnostic of sarcopenia could be avoided, and more realistic diagnostic will be reached.

Correlation of handgrip strength with quality of life-adjusted pulmonary function in adults.

Handgrip strength (HGS) is acknowledged as a key indicator of overall physical fitness and is associated with various health outcomes. This research investigates the correlation between HGS and quality of life (QoL), focusing on its relation to pulmonary function in the general adult population. The study involved 19,402 participants aged 40 and above, spanning from 2014 to 2019, who underwent pulmonary function and HGS tests. Participants were categorized based on lung function, and regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between HGS and QoL, with adjustments made for lung function. The average age of the cohort was 58.2 years, comprising 44.6% males and 41.2% smokers. Out of the 18,708 participants who completed the European Quality of Life Scale-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) assessment, higher severity levels in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression were linked to lower HGS in both sexes. Additionally, among the 3,723 participants who completed the Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) assessment, higher severity levels in pain, work, and depression were associated with lower HGS in men. In women, higher severity levels in climbing stairs, pain, vitality, and work correlated with lower HGS. As problems indicated by EQ-5D worsened, there was a consistent decrease in handgrip strength (HGS) across both genders. The HINT-8 assessment further revealed that increased severity in pain and work-related issues led to reduced HGS in both men and women. This study highlights the relationship between HGS and Quality of Life (QoL), taking lung function into consideration, and underscores the importance of HGS as a potential marker of physical health and fitness.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Chronic Heart Failure and Modulating Role of Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction: Sarcopenia, heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common among the older people. Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of sarcopenia, among community-dwelling older adults with HF, possible causative factors, and the additive factor of CKD. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 1,420 older people living in the community was carried out. Participants (aged 75 years and more) came from a European multicenter prospective cohort (SCOPE study). Global geriatric assessment including short physical performance battery, handgrip strength test, and bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed. Previous known HF was defined as physician-diagnosed HF registered in the patient’s medical record or the use of HF-related medications, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Sarcopenia was defined by the updated criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) to define the stages of CKD. Two-year mortality was also collected. Results: A total of 226 (15.9%) participants had a prior chronic HF diagnosis, with a median age of 80.0 (5.0), and 123 (54.4%) were women. Using EWGSOP2 definition, 11.5% HF and 10.7% in non-HF participants met diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia. In multivariate analyses, only a lower body mass index (BMI) (odds ratios [OR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.93) and lower short physical performance battery score (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69–0.96) were associated with sarcopenia. Patients with HF and sarcopenia have a similar all-cause mortality risk but higher 2-year cardiovascular mortality risk (p = 0.047). Discussion/Conclusion: One out of ten community-dwelling older adults with concurrent clinical stable chronic HF, without considering LVEF, have sarcopenia. Lower BMI and poor physical performance are associated with sarcopenia in this population, but not CKD.

Evaluation of handgrip strength in children with pulmonary hypertension.

Handgrip strength is a crucial indicator of upper extremity muscular strength and is vital for monitoring disorders like cardiac diseases that restrict a patient's physical activity and result in muscle atrophy. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether muscle strength loss is present in patients with pulmonary hypertension and whether this test can be an alternative to 6-minute walk test. The study included 39 healthy children who were admitted to the outpatient clinic and 16 children with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension who were being followed in our centre. We assessed the differences in upper extremity handgrip strength using the Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer device among both healthy children and those diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, we compared the handgrip strength of pulmonary hypertension patients with significant prognostic indicators such as NYHA class, 6-minute walk test, and pro-brain natriuretic peptide. The mean dominant handgrip strength was 20.8 ± 12 kg in the patient group and 21.6 ± 12.4 kg in the control group (p = 0.970). Handgrip strength was shown to be negatively connected with pro-brain natriuretic peptide (r = -0.565, p = 0.023) and positively correlated with 6-minute walk test (r = 0.586, p = 0.022) during the patient group evaluation. Six-minute walk test needs a customised physical area (30 m of a straight hallway) and trained personnel for applying the test. The handgrip strength test, a different muscle strength indicator, can be used to more clearly and simply indicate the decline in patients' ability for effort. Additionally, it was found in our study that handgrip strength decreased as pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels rose, a crucial measure in the monitoring of pulmonary hypertension.

Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity, Performance-Related Health, and Academic Achievements in 11-to-13-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Qatar.

Age-related differences in physical activity (PA), maturity status (PHV), physical performance (PP), and academic achievement (AA) among schoolchildren in Qatar were examined. Sixty-nine students from a school in Doha were categorized into three equal (n = 23) groups: 11-year-old students (U11; male: n = 14), 12-year-old students (U12: male: n = 7), and 13-year-old students (U13: male: n = 11). The testing process comprised a medicine ball throw, Stork balance test, hand grip strength test, the T-half test (PP), GPA in Arabic, mathematics, science (AA), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (PA), and Moore's equations (PHV). Relevant age-related differences (p < 0.001) were identified in mathematics, science, the T-half test, maturity, and arm span. Notably, differences between adjacent age groups were evident between U11 and U12, concerning arm span, maturity, mathematics, and science, and between U12 and U13 (the T-half test, mathematics, science). Concerning AP, the performance maxima were calculated for U12 (mathematics, science) and U11 (Arabic). Regarding PP, performance maxima were only observed for U13. Except for the moderate level, the highest levels of PA were detected in U13. Maturity status and anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between age groups. However, AA demonstrated the most notable age-related differences. Specifically, mathematics showed substantial differences between adjacent age groups.

Assessment of phase angle as a novel indicator for sarcopenic obesity according to the ESPEN/EASO criteria in older adults with diabetes mellitus

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a clinical condition in which sarcopenia and obesity occur together, and is associated with more poor clinical outcomes, increased mortality, and morbidity than sarcopenia. Phase angle (PhA), a parameter derived from bioimpedance analysis (BIA), provides data on cellular health, membrane integrity, and cellular function. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SO and PhA among older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We performed a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital, and all participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, the hand-grip strength test (HGST), the chair stand test (CST) for muscle strength evaluation, the 4-meter walking test, and the timed up-and-go (TUG) test for physical performance assessment. The diagnosis of SO was made according to the ESPEN/EASO criteria. The PhA was determined automatically by the BIA using resistance and reactance at 50 kHz for each participant. A total of 322 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 72.5 ±5.8, and 203 (63%) of them were female; 63 (19.6%) of them were sarcopenic obese. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, a significant relationship was found when the model was adjusted for age, female gender, MNA-sf scores, HbA1c level, and CCI scores (OR: 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29-0.98, P = 0.04). In ROC analyses, for PhA in predicting SO diagnosis, the AUC was 0.586 (95%CI: 0.505-0.678, P = 0.033). At the cut-off score 4.4, sensitivity was 57.1% and specificity was 61.4%; positive predictive value (PPV) was 26.5%; negative predictive value (NPV) was 85.5%. The study identified a significant relationship between SO and PhA among older adults with type 2 DM. However, larger prospective studies are needed to confirm the potential utility of PhA as a biomarker for SO.

Body morphology and handgrip strength parameters of the female canoe slalom paddlers.

Introduction: Canoe slalom is a physically very demanding discipline, in which body constitution, body composition, and relative strength are significant factors in high performance. Although anthropometric and strength parameters are relatively well-studied in male athletes, there is a lack of evidence for any conclusions in women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the morphology and upper-limb strength parameters of female canoe slalom paddlers and identify whether morphological differences exist between performance groups. Methods: Altogether, 63 female competitors of the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup (n = 29) and 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking Competition (n = 34) in Prague (Czech Republic) were examined with a battery of anthropometric tests, segmental bioimpedance analysis, and handgrip strength test. The athletes were divided into groups according to age and performance: elite athletes belonging to the world top 10 according to the ICF World Ranking (WORLD, n = 7), international-level athletes competing during the World Cup (ELITE, n = 22), international-level junior athletes competing in the World Ranking Race (JUNIOR, n = 17), and other lower performance-level athletes competing in the World Ranking Race (REST, n = 17). Results: Female slalom paddlers are, in general, of average body height (∼165cm), lower body mass (∼60kg), BMI (∼22kg/m2), and body fat (∼20%) and without exceptional anthropometric dimensions and proportions. However, differences were detected when performance was factored in. Female paddlers belonging to the world TOP 10 have the largest circumferences of arms and forearms, and their somatotype is more mesomorphic, with a lower proportion of total body fat and a higher proportion of muscle mass. In addition, the WORLD group differs significantly in upper-limb strength. Discussion: The results shows the significance of muscular strength and power for canoe slalom athletes and the importance of well-developed musculature in operating the boat in the unstable environment. Being a successful female canoe slalom athlete requires a well-developed musculature, maximizing strength capabilities while maintaining a low body weight through limited hypertrophy of the lower limbs and a low level of body fat.

Risk of Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis in Elderly Male Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Multicenter Study

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of sarcopenia and osteoporosis in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We recruited both OSAS patients and non-OSAS subjects from multiple centers and evaluated their skeletal muscle index (SMI), bone mineral density (BMD), and inflammatory factors. All participants underwent polysomnography (PSG) testing, handgrip strength testing, chest CT, and dual-energy x-ray BMD testing. Based on the PSG diagnosis results, the participants were divided into a control group and an OSAS group. The analysis results revealed a higher incidence of sarcopenia in the OSAS group (χ2 = 22.367; P = 0.000) and osteoporosis (χ2 = 11.730a; P = 0.001). There were statistically significant differences in BMI (P = 0.000), grip strength (P = 0.000), SMI (P = 0.000), bone density (P = 0.000) and vitamin D (P = 0.000). The independent sample t test results showed that there was no statistical difference between IL-6 (P = 0.247) and CRP (P = 0.246). Considering the potential impact of body weight on the observed indicators, we employed covariance analysis to calculate the modified P value for each observation indicator. The findings demonstrated that the grip strength, IL-6, and CRP levels in the OSAS group were significantly higher compared to the control group. Conversely, the SMI, bone density, and Vitamin D levels were found to be significantly lower in the OSAS group than in the control group. These results suggest a higher likelihood of sarcopenia and osteoporosis among OSAS patients. Further studies should be conducted in larger study populations.

Influence of Virtual Reality and Gamification Combined with Practice Teaching Style in Physical Education on Motor Skills and Students’ Perceived Effort: A Mixed-Method Intervention Study

This mixed-method study examined the impact of combining virtual reality (VR) and gamification (GAM) with the practice teaching style (PTS) on students’ motor skills and perceived effort in physical education. Participants (n = 75) were divided into three groups: PTS (control), PTS + GAM and PTS + GAM + VR. Each group had two one-hour sessions per week for six weeks. Participants’ motor skills and perceived effort were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively using tests such as the SportComp Motor, flamingo and plate-tapping tests, as well as the handgrip strength test and the Pictorical Children’s Effort Rating Table. The results indicate that the PTS group reported a higher perceived effort compared to the other groups (p &lt; 0.001). All study groups exhibited improvements in the handgrip strength (p &lt; 0.001) and flamingo (p &lt; 0.05) tests, while lateral jump test improvements were observed only in the two GAM groups (p &lt; 0.001). The VR group showed an improvement in the plate-tapping tests (p &lt; 0.001), while the PTS group exhibited a decline in the displacement with support test (p &lt; 0.05). Participant perceptions suggest that the activity nature, motivation from competition and rewards influenced the perceived effort and motor skills. In conclusion, GAM techniques are effective in reducing perceived effort in physical education programs, and combining GAM with VR enhances improvements in motor skills.

Can Muscular Parameters Predict Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression?

Major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders are among the major public health issues. Therefore, identifying predictors of symptoms of depression and anxiety holds fundamental importance to avoid the aggravation of these conditions. Muscle strength and function (e.g., handgrip strength and timed-stands test) are widely recognized predictors of health outcomes; however, their association with symptoms of depression and anxiety is still not completely understood. This study investigated the associations between handgrip strength and timed-stands test scores with symptoms of depression and anxiety. In addition, we examined whether individuals exhibiting greater strength levels demonstrate reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those with lower levels of strength. This is a community-based, cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited through social media and underwent a semi-structured interview to record sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, use of tobacco and medication, and symptoms of anxiety (Beck's Anxiety Inventory [BAI]) and depression (Beck's Depressive Inventory [BDI]). Subsequently, anthropometric characteristics, handgrip strength, and functionality (i.e., timed-stands test) were assessed. In all, 216 individuals were evaluated. The adjusted regression model showed an inverse association between handgrip strength and anxiety (β = -0.22; 95% CI [-0.38, -0.07]; R2 = 0.07, p = .005) and depression symptoms (β = -0.25; 95% CI [-0.42, -0.07]; R2 = 0.05, p = .006). Similarly, timed-stands test scores were associated with anxiety (β = -0.33; 95% CI [-0.54, -0.13]; R2 = 0.09, p = .002) and depression (β = -0.32; 95% CI [-0.56, -0.09]; R2 = 0.06, p = .008). Furthermore, the low-strength group showed higher values on the BAI (9.5 vs. 5.9 arbitrary units; p = .0008) and BDI than the high-strength group (10.8 vs. 7.9 arbitrary units; p = .0214). When individuals were stratified by the timed-stands test, the low timed-stands group demonstrated higher values on the BAI (9.9 vs. 5.5 arbitrary units; p = .0030) and BDI than the high timed-stands group (11.2 vs. 7.5 arbitrary units; p < .0001). The results highlight muscular parameters as significant predictors associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Association among muscle strength from upper and lower limb with risk of falls in elderly

Background: Falls represent a serious public health problem, especially for the elderly, and are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, decreased functional capacity, and early institutionalization. Falls have a multifactorial etiology, with muscle weakness being a significant risk factor. Objectives: To analyze the association between upper and lower limb muscle strength and the risk of falls in the elderly. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study with 81 individuals aged ≥ 60 years. Participants were subjected to the following assessment instruments International Physical Activity Questionnaire - IPAQ (short version), the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), the handgrip strength test (HST), and the 30-second chair stand test. Results: Associations were observed between physical activity and HST (p = 0.004) and TUG (p = 0.010). Age was significantly associated with performance in the chair stand and rise test (p = 0.042) and TUG (p &lt; 0.001). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that HST and age are predictors of the risk of falls. Conclusion: Low HST is a predictor of falls in the elderly (determined by TUG). Physically active elderly individuals had higher HST and a lower risk of falls compared to insufficiently active elderly individuals.

Physical activity level and physical fitness in subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study.

Low physical activity (PA) levels and low physical fitness (PF) have been reported in subjects with temporality-based chronic pain; however, it is unknown whether there are differences in subjects with nociplastic pain (NP) compared with subjects with non-nociplastic pain (NNP). The aim was to compare the levels of PA and PF in patients with chronic, nociplastic, and non-nociplastic musculoskeletal pain. This is an analytical, cross-sectional study. The sample comprised 30 patients receiving ambulatory physiotherapy treatment. Pain was classified as NP or NNP according to the International Association for the Study of Pain categorization system. The PA level was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and the PF level was measured with the hand grip strength test (HGS) to assess upper limb strength, the five Repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (5R-SRTS) to assess lower limb strength and power, and the YMCA 3 Min Step Test (YMCA-3MST) to estimate peak VO2. The results were compared with independent samples t-tests (with p < 0.05 considered significant). Cohen's d was calculated to determine the effect size. The NP group reported a significantly lower PA level than the NNP group, specifically the vigorous PA (p = 0.0009), moderate PA (p = 0.0002), and total PA (p = 0.005) dimensions. The NP group also showed significantly lower 5R-STS (p = 0.000) and HGS (p = 0.002) results compared with the NNP group. There were no significant differences in the YMCA-3MST between the NP and NNP groups (p = 0.635). It is possible that the neurophysiological and neuromuscular changes related to NP are associated with a reduced ability to perform vigorous PA. Clinicians should identify the presence of NP comorbidities in conjunction with the diagnosis when establishing the therapeutic goals.