Peak Grip Strength Research Articles

Low muscle fitness are related to a high lipid–metabolic cardiovascular risk

OBJECTIVE. We studied the association of lipid–metabolic cardiovascular risk index(LMCRI) with muscular fitness(MF). METHODS. Healthy young (mean age 21.2±4.7 years) men(n= 6.095) were invited to participate in the study. All subjects were from Bogota and Cali(Colombia) and belong to different universities (public and private).MF was measured two times with a TKK(handgrip). To account for differences in body size, peak grip strength was divided by body mass and handgrip (kg)/kg was used in further analysis. Subjects were further divided into six subgroups according to BMI (normal vs. overweight/obese) and MF (tertiles: unfit, average, fit). Fasting blood was obtained to measure a lipid profile and glucose levels. A LMCRI was calculated. RESULTS. The groups with the lowest MF had 67% higher aLMCRI than the groups with the highest MF(P<0.001). In overweight/obese participants, the LMCRI (66%/84%) was higher compared with subjects with normal weight(P<0.05, in all). In BMI and MF subgroups, LMCRI was higher in the overweight/unfit subgroup (0.132±0.965) when compared with the normal-weight/unfit subgroup(-0.362±0.791; P<0.001) and overweight/fit and normal-weight/fit subjects (0.008±1,104 vs. -0.423±0.676; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS . Overweight and obesity are associated with serum conventional lipids and lipid–metabolic cardiovascular risk index. However, low MF levels should be avoided for primary cardiovascular disease prevention.

How old do you feel? The role of age discrimination and biological aging in subjective age.

Subjective age, or how young or old individuals experience themselves to be relative to their chronological age, is a crucial construct in gerontology. Subjective age is a significant predictor of important health outcomes, but little is known about the criteria by which individuals' subjectively evaluate their age. To identify psychosocial and biomedical factors linked to the subjective evaluation of age, this study examined whether perceived age discrimination and markers of biological aging are associated with subjective age. Participants were 4776 adults (M age = 68) from the 2008 and 2010 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who completed measures of subjective age, age discrimination, demographic variables, self-rated health and depression, and had physical health measures, including peak expiratory flow, grip strength, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Telomere length was available for a subset of participants in the 2008 wave (n = 2214). Regression analysis indicated that perceived age discrimination, lower peak expiratory flow, lower grip strength, and higher waist circumference were associated with an older subjective age, controlling for sociodemographic factors, self-rated health, and depression. In contrast, blood pressure and telomere length were not related to subjective age. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that how old a person feels depends in part on psychosocial and biomedical factors, including the experiences of ageism and perceptible indices of fitness and biological age.

Effect of muscle strength training on urinary incontinence and physical function: a randomized controlled trial in long-term care facilities

This study was done to determine whether muscle strength training programs have an impact on improving symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and physical function among elderly women with UI who reside in long-term care facilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants had to be over 65 years, score over 15 score on the mini-mental state examination, and be able to walk alone or with an assistant. Seventy residents were randomly allocated to either the training group (n=35) or control group (n=35). The program consisted of 50 minutes, twice a week for 8 weeks, and included Kegel's exercise, Thera-band training and indoor walking. Main outcomes were UI symptoms, peak vaginal pressure and physical functions measured with timed up and go test (TUG), one leg standing test (OLST), activities of daily living (ADL) and grip strength. Changes in outcome measurements were calculated from baseline to 4 weeks and to 8 weeks using repeated measures ANOVA. There were significant differences in peak vaginal pressure (p<.001), TUG (p<.001), OLST (p=.012) and grip strength (p<.001) in the interaction between groups and time. Future studies are suggested to confirm the effect of muscle strength training in long-term care facilities where elderly women with UI reside.

Dynamic Assessment of Wrist After Proximal Row Carpectomy and 4-Corner Fusion

To investigate the effect of 4-corner fusion (4CF) or proximal row carpectomy (PRC) on wrist motion, strength, and outcome for 2 different cohorts from 2 separate institutions performing either 4CF or PRC for stage 2/3 scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse and scapholunate advanced collapse. The researchers assessed 46 subjects (24 4CF and 22 PRC), mean age 54 years, with a flexible electrogoniometer to measure maximum wrist motion and circumduction and compare it with the nonsurgical wrist. We analyzed the shape, size, rate, and smoothness of the circumduction curves. We assessed the maximum grip and sustainability of grip for 60 seconds using a digital grip analyzer. Patient evaluation measure and Michigan Hand Questionnaires measured patient-reported outcomes. Flexion-extension in the surgically treated wrist was 50% of the nonsurgical side after a 4CF and 65% after a PRC. The radioulnar deviation component in circumduction of the surgically treated wrist was similar but markedly decreased after either procedure. The mean area of circumduction of the surgically treated wrist was similar after a PRC and a 4CF but was 30% of the nonsurgical wrist. The center of the circumduction ellipse after a PRC was closer than after a 4CF to the opposite wrist. The orientation of the plane of circumduction was 22° to the vertical flexion-extension plane after a PRC. After a 4CF, the plane was more vertical (9°). The peak grip strength and the area under the force time curve was 80% of the nonsurgical side after a PRC and 60% after a 4CF. The Michigan Hand Questionnaire result was 90% of the score for the nonsurgical hand after a PRC and 75% of score for the nonsurgical hand after a 4CF. The PRC provided improved flexion-extension with a circumduction curve concentric with the nonsurgical wrist. The 4CF limited extension and ulnar deviation more than did a PRC. Therapeutic IV.

The role of partnership status on late-life physical function.

This study examined the socioeconomic pathways linking partnership status to physical functioning, assessed using objective measures of late life physical functioning, including peak flow and grip strength. Using Wave 4 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we ran multilevel models to examine the relationship between partnership status and physical function in late life, adjusting for social-network characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and health behaviours. We found a robust relationship between partnership status and physical function. Incorporating social-network characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and health behaviours showed independent robust relationships with physical function. Co-variates attenuated the impact of cohabitation, separation, and widowhood on physical function; robust effects were found for singlehood and divorce. Sex-segregated analyses suggest that associations between cohabitation, singlehood, divorce, and widowhood were larger for men than for women. Results suggest that social ties are important to improved physical function.

Grip strength and metabolomic effects in mice fed a high‐nitrate beet diet (647.32)

Beets (Beta vulgaris) are large edible tap roots vegetables belonging to the chenopod family. In addition to being a good source of essential micronutrients and minerals, beets also contain high levels of nitrates. Diets high in beet and nitrates have been demonstrated to improve exercise capacity, muscle contractility, and blood pressure. While these results have been replicated several times little is known about the mechanism of action. In this study we investigated grip strength and metabolomic changes in response to diets containing sodium nitrate, and beets providing nitrates at 5.5, 2.75, 1.37 mmol/g BW/day. Grip strength studies demonstrated a dose response improvement in the mice eating the beet diet, with a statistically significant peak grip strength improvement of 25%. These results are consistent with previous reports that beet juice improves muscle contractility. Untargeted metabolomic analysis in two separate studies indicated an upward trend (p=0.06) of plasma sphingosine 1‐phospate (S1P) concentrations in mice fed a beet diet (5.5mmol/gBW/day) compared with mice fed a control diet. Increased S1P has been previously correlated with exercise performance, muscle repair and activation of muscle stem cells. Overall these results suggest that high‐nitrate foods such as beets may improve muscle contractility through a mechanism of action which may include S1P and targets under its influence.

Effects of 12 Weeks High-Speed Elastic Band Training on Cognitive Function, Physical Performance and Muscle Strength in Older Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Exercise has shown to slow down the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. In particular, not only resistance exercise has been verified to improve physical performance and muscle strength, leading to the prevention of fall-related injuries in the frail elderly, but also cognitive function. In this study, we investigated how high-speed elastic band training, applied using a high-speed power training protocol, affects cognition, physical performance and muscle strength of female elderly individuals with MCI. Methods: Thirty-nine subjects diagnosed with MCI from one senior college using a Korean version of mini-mental state examination (MMSE-K) and a Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) were randomly divided into exercise group (n=20) and control group (n=19). The exercise group completed a 12-week high-speed resistance elastic band exercise program and was encouraged to exercise at home as well during the intervention period. Results: The results showed significant increases in cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength assessed by digit span forward test (P<0.001), digit span backward test (P=0.003), the Stroop test B (P=0.031), SPPB scores (P=0.010), right knee 60° extensor peak torque (P=0.004), 60° flexor peak torque (P=0.001), 180° extensor peak torque (P=0.020) and grip strength (P=0.025) Conclusions: Our study showed that participants with MCI who continued the high-speed elastic band training program for 12 weeks showed improvements in cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength.

성장기 청소년의 상체 근력감소지수와 최고악력, 비만도의 관계

성장기 청소년의 상체 근력감소지수와 최고악력, 비만도의 관계

Race/Ethnic and Nativity Disparities in Later Life Physical Performance: The Role of Health and Socioeconomic Status Over the Life Course

We examine race/ethnic and nativity differences in objective measures of physical performance (i.e., peak expiratory flow, grip strength, and gait speed) in a nationally representative sample of older Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. We also examine whether detailed measures of childhood and adult health and socioeconomic status (SES) mediate race/ethnic differences in physical performance. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study, a population-based sample of older Americans born before 1947, and 3 measures of physical performance. Nested ordinary least squares models examine whether childhood and adult health and SES mediate race/ethnic differences in performance. We find large and significant race/ethnic and nativity differences in lung function, grip strength, and gait speed. Adjusting for childhood and current adult health and SES reduces race/ethnic differences in physical performance but does not eliminate them entirely. Childhood health and SES as well as more proximal levels of SES are important determinants of race/ethnic disparities in later life physical performance. The analysis highlights that a large proportion of race/ethnic and nativity disparities result from health and socioeconomic disadvantages in both early life and adulthood and thus suggests multiple intervention points at which disparities can be reduced.

Grip Span and Aging: Does the Grip Strength-Span Relationship Change with Age?

Grip strength has been well studied in conjunction with product and individual characteristics including age. Design characteristics for products targeted to older adults frequently include larger or chunkier handles or grips. To understand motivation for these design choices, this investigation assessed grip strength at 5 grip spans of 31 participants in two age groups. The downward shift in the grip strength/span curve can be attributed to the decrease in strength with age associated with loss of type II muscle fibers in all muscles (which was more pronounced for male participants). However, there was no shift in the grip strength/span curve peak to a wider grip. Thus the affinity for chunkier handles (increased volume, contact surface area, and grip span) and grip designs for older adults is not motivated by a shift in peak grip strength over the tested grip span.

Bayesian longitudinal plateau model of adult grip strength

This article illustrates the use of applied Bayesian statistical methods in modeling the trajectory of adult grip strength and in evaluating potential risk factors that may influence that trajectory. The data consist of from 1 to 11 repeated grip strength measurements from each of 498 men and 533 women age 18-96 years in the Fels Longitudinal Study (Roche AF. 1992. Growth, maturation and body composition: the Fels longitudinal study 1929-1991. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). In this analysis, the Bayesian framework was particularly useful for fitting a nonlinear mixed effects plateau model with two unknown change points and for the joint modeling of a time-varying covariate. Multiple imputation (MI) was used to handle missing values with posterior inferences appropriately adjusted to account for between-imputation variability. On average, men and women attain peak grip strength at the same age (36 years), women begin to decline in grip strength sooner (age 50 years for women and 56 years for men), and men lose grip strength at a faster rate relative to their peak; there is an increasing secular trend in peak grip strength that is not attributable to concurrent secular trends in body size, and the grip strength trajectory varies with birth weight (men only), smoking (men only), alcohol consumption (men and women), and sports activity (women only). Longitudinal data analysis requires handling not only serial correlation but often also time-varying covariates, missing data, and unknown change points. Bayesian methods, combined with MI, are useful in handling these issues.

Risk factors for hip fracture in older adults: a case–control study in Taiwan

We conducted a matched case-control study of hip fracture in older adults. Our findings suggest that hip fracture risk was determined by multiple factors. Older women characterized by low consumption of milk, peak flow rate, grip strength, and bone mineral density (BMD) had increased risk of hip fracture. Older men with impaired cognitive function and low BMD were also at higher risk of hip fracture. Multiple factors contribute to low-trauma hip fracture in older adults. The aim of this study was to determine important characteristics of hip fracture in older population. A total of 228 patients with first low-trauma hip fracture were matched with 497 controls. All 77 potential risk factors of hip fracture organized into 13 groups were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Low milk intake, peak flow rate, hand grip strength, and bone mineral density in women and low mini-mental state examination score and bone mineral density in men were further identified to be independently associated with elevated hip fracture risk. The factors found in our study may help understand the etiology of hip fracture and be further adopted to evaluate the risk of hip fracture in community and clinical setting.

Effects of Exercise Intervention on Physical Fitness and Health-relalted Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stretching, muscle strengthening, and walking exercise on the cardiopulmonary function and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Twenty-one patients in the intervention and the control group participated in the exercise respectively on maintenance hemodialysis at four university hospitals. The exercise was composed of 20 to 60 min per session, 3 sessions a week for 12 weeks. The effect of exercise was assessed by cardiopulmonary function (peak oxygen uptake, peak ventilation, peak respiration rate, maximal heart rate, and exercise duration) using a cycle ergometer. Grip strength was measured by dynamometer, and flexibility was measured by sit and reach measuring instrument. Health-related quality of life was measured using Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. Peak oxygen uptake, peak ventilation, peak respiration rate, exercise duration, grip strength, flexibility, and physical component scale were significantly improved in the intervention group after 12 week's exercise compared to the control group. These findings indicate the exercise can improve cardiopulmonary function, grip strength, flexibility, and physical component scale of health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Grip strength in children: Test–retest reliability using Grippit

To examine the reliability of peak and sustained grip strength in children using the Grippit. We compared the reliability of one trial, the best and mean of three trials and the reliability within 6-, 10- and 14-year-old groups. Test-retest study. Grip strength with the Grippit instrument was evaluated at two test occasions in 58 children. Intraclass correlation coefficient 2.1 (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) also expressed as a percentage value (SEM%), coefficient of repeatability and coefficient of variation were calculated. The test-retest reliability was good for both peak and sustained grip strength. The mean and best of three trials were equally reliable. Peak grip strength best of three trials, for example, was more reliable for the 6-year-olds (ICC 0.96, SEM% 6.3) and 14-year-olds (ICC 0.96, SEM% 5.2) compared to the 10-year-olds (ICC 0.78, SEM% 12.5). For peak grip strength in the whole sample, there was a systematic bias with better performance at the second measurement. Grip strength assessment in children with Grippit results in good relative and absolute reliability for peak and sustained grip strength. We recommend that three test trials are used. The mean of and the best of three trials are comparable.

A study of grip endurance and strengh in different elbow positions

BackgroundThe aim of our study was twofold. The first was to investigate the optimum position of the elbow while measuring grip endurance. The second was to investigate the optimum position of the elbow while measuring peak grip strength. The American Society of Hand Therapists advocate estimation of grip strength with the elbow flexed at 90° with the subject in the sitting position . As far as we are aware, there have been no reports in English literature regarding studies done to evaluate the position of the elbow while measuring grip endurance. Materials and methodsA total of 45 healthy adults (16 males, 29 females) participated in this study. A computerised handgrip analyser was used to measure the peak strength in the non-dominant hand, followed by measurement of the grip endurance. These measurements were conducted in 90° of flexion and full extension of the elbow for each participant.ResultsMean endurance in flexion was 71.0 N (SD 22.9) and in extension was 68.7 N (SD 27.4). Mean peak grip strength in flexion was 262.8 N (SD 73.1) and in extension was 264.1 N (SD 82.0). T test analysis showed no statistical significance for elbow positions for grip endurance (P = 0.67) and peak gip strength (P = 0.93).ConclusionPractical implications from this study are that grip endurance training can be undertaken with the elbow in 90° of flexion or full extension.

Size at birth and its relation to muscle strength in young adult women

To assess the relationship between development in utero, assessed by birth weight, and muscle strength in young adult women as assessed by grip strength. A total of 1563 participants aged 20-40 years in the Southampton Women's Survey had their grip strength measured during pregnancy. At recruitment to the survey the women had been asked to recall their birth weight or obtain it from their parents. For 536 women born in Southampton, birth weight was obtained from hospital records. Grip strength was related to birth weight using multiple linear regression analysis, adjusting for age, height, weight and reported physical activity. Grip strength increased with age, height, weight, physical activity and birth weight. In the mutually-adjusted model, grip strength increased by 1.10 kg per kilogram of birth weight (95% CI: 0.58-1.61 kg). In women with hospital birth weight data the relationship strengthened to 1.44 kg per kilogram of birth weight (95% CI: 0.50-2.38 kg). Grip strength in women in their twenties and thirties is at or approaching its peak. The association between grip strength and birth weight was remarkably similar to findings from other studies of women at younger and older ages. This indicates that in utero development has consequences for muscle strength throughout the life course, even allowing for the increase to peak muscle strength and then its decline as a woman ages.

THE EFFECTS OF WRIST SPLINTS ON WHEN FEMALES REACH THE PEAK GRIP STRENGTH UNDER DIFFERENT WRIST AND FOREARM POSITIONS

ABSTRACT When peak grip strength is reached may be a useful and interesting index for evaluating strength generation and the relationship between resistance and response time, and as one of selected criteria to quantify the muscle fatigue and the static peak strengths. The present study investigates the influence of wearing splints under different forearm and wrist postures on grip MVC (maximum volitional contraction) as well as the time needed to reach the MVC (denoted by TMVC). Twenty female college students took part in this experiment voluntarily. The factorial design with four fixed factors (subject, forearm position, wrist deviation, and splint (with and without)) was employed. The forearm positions were set at 0 and 30 degrees internal (Internal-0 and 30) and 30 degrees external shoulder rotation (Ex-ternal-30). The wrist deviations are extension 30° (E30°), neutral (N0°), flexion 30° (F30°). The results show that the effect of forearm posture changes the grip MVC pronouncedly, but not the TMMVC. The forearm at External-30 generates the least MVC (234.5N), and the other two postures are indifferent from each other (250.3 N vs. 253.2 N). As to the effect of wrist posture, it influences both selected responses, the MVC and the TMVC. The wrist at neutral generates the optimum force (254.4 N), and the other two wrist postures are indifferent (239.6 N vs. 244.0 N). Moreover, wrist posture at E30° also has the longest TMVC, and the rate of force development is the lowest among the three specified wrist positions. Finally, the presence or absence of splints shifted neither the MVC nor the TMVC.

Nutritional therapy improves function and complements corticosteroid intervention in mdx mice

Corticosteroid therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy is effective but associated with long-term side effects. To determine the potential therapeutic benefit from four nutritional compounds (creatine monohydrate, conjugated linoleic acid, alpha-lipoic acid, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) alone, in combination, and with corticosteroids (prednisolone), we evaluated the effects on several variables in exercising mdx mice. Outcome measures included grip strength, rotarod performance, serum creatine kinase levels, muscle metabolites, internalized myonuclei, and retroperitoneal fat pad weight. In isolation, each nutritional treatment showed some benefit, with the combination therapy showing the most consistent benefits. Prednisolone and the combination therapy together provided the most consistent evidence of efficacy; increased peak grip strength (P < 0.05), decreased grip strength fatigue (P < 0.05), decreased number of internalized myonuclei (P < 0.01), and smaller retroperitoneal fat pad stores (P < 0.001). This study provided evidence for therapeutic benefit from a four-compound combination therapy alone, and in conjunction with corticosteroids in the mdx model of DMD.

Quantification of the effects of instruction type, verbal encouragement, and visual feedback on static and peak handgrip strength

The purpose of the study was to quantify the magnitude of the influence of the effects of instruction type, verbal encouragement, and visual feedback on static strength and to verify the applicability of the Caldwell Regimen to grip strength measurement. Twenty-one male students participated in the study that employed an isokinetic wrist dynamometer to measure handgrip strength. The results revealed that these three factors had significant positive effects on static grip strength, peak grip strength and time to reach the maximal strength. The findings showed that when subjects were free to perform the handgrip any way they chose (free instruction (FI)), they most closely followed a fast contraction and maintained force (FCM). The strength results from the Caldwell Regimen were also similar to the FCM, but the variability during the exertion was higher with the Caldwell Regimen instructions of a slow contraction and maintain (SCM) than FCM. A modified Caldwell Regimen with a shorter maintained time rather than a long maintained time might allow a more stable “static” strength. In addition, the use of verbal encouragement and visual feedback should be noted, if employed in a strength test. Relevance to industry Handgrip strength is commonly used in industrial tasks. The maximum handgrip strength is often measured employing the Caldwell Regimen. This paper examines the static and peak handgrip strengths associated with the subject's preferred handgrip method other instruction types. It also examines the effect of visual feedback and verbal encouragement that are not often associated with industrial work, but are frequently used in strength testing.

Measuring grip strength in normal adults: Reference ranges and a comparison of electronic and hydraulic instruments

Purpose To determine reference ranges for peak, average, and final adult grip strength over 10 seconds by using an electronic dynamometer, and to compare results from hydraulic and electronic dynamometers. Methods The hand-grip strengths of 476 healthy adult subjects were tested using the electronic (Grippit; AB Detektor, Goteborg, Sweden) and hydraulic (Jamar; Smith and Nephew, Memphis, TN) dynamometers. Results Age- and gender-specific reference ranges for the Jamar and Grippit dynamometers are presented. Bland-Altman analysis of the differences between the results obtained using the 2 instruments revealed a bias (mean difference) of 22 N (Jamar − Grippit) and limits of agreement of −86 to 129 N (mean ± 2 SD), which indicates that grip measurements may vary by up to 215 N between instruments. Conclusions The study yielded population reference ranges of peak, average, and final strength over a 10-second grip assessment using an electronic dynamometer. Results from the Grippit and Jamar dynamometers are similar; however, the dynamometers cannot be interchanged. The Grippit provides information about endurance and fatigue of grip over 10 seconds, showing differences between right- and left-dominant adults.