Grip Strength

A key indicator of physical performance and quality of life as we age.

Grip strength is the ability of the hand and forearm muscles to generate force when squeezing an object. Although it may seem a simple measure, its importance goes far beyond opening jars or giving a good handshake. Grip strength is an important indicator of overall physical performance and is closely related to health and quality of life, especially as we age.

Why is grip strength important?

Grip strength not only measures the strength of the hand, but also reflects the muscular and metabolic health of the body. Studies have shown that higher grip strength is associated with better physical function, lower risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and higher bone density. It is also a reliable predictor of muscular endurance and overall strength.

Grip strength and ageing

As we age, maintaining good grip strength becomes crucial. Loss of muscle strength, known as sarcopenia, is common in older people and can lead to reduced functionality and independence. Grip strength is an important tool for assessing sarcopenia and other age-related health problems.

Several studies have found that greater grip strength is associated with lower incidence of chronic disease, better mental health and increased longevity.

Grip strength in health studies

At AZTI, we use grip strength measurement as a functional capacity assessment tool in conjunction with other advanced analyses such as biosensors and omics analysis. The combination of these tools provides a comprehensive view of an individual’s health, allowing us to provide more accurate and personalised nutritional recommendations.

References

• Rubén López-Bueno, Lars Louis Andersen, Ai Koyanagi, Rodrigo Núñez-Cortés, Joaquín Calatayud, José Casaña, Borja del Pozo Cruz, Thresholds of handgrip strength for all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality: A systematic review with dose-response meta-analysis, Ageing Research Reviews, Volume 82, 2022, 101778, ISSN 1568-1637, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2022.101778
• Sayer AA, Kirkwood TB. Grip strength and mortality: a biomarker of ageing? Lancet. 2015 Jul 18;386(9990):226-7. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62349-7
• Halaweh H. Correlation between Health-Related Quality of Life and Hand Grip Strength among Older Adults. Exp Aging Res. 2020 Mar-Apr;46(2):178-191. doi: 10.1080/0361073X.2020.1716157
• Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Rubín L, McGrath R, Gower B, Boyle T, Klug MG, Mayhew AJ, Blake HT, Ortega FB, Cadenas-Sanchez C, Magnussen CG, Fraser BJ, Kidokoro T, Liu Y, Christensen K, Leong DP; iGRIPS (international handGRIP Strength) Group. International norms for adult handgrip strength: A systematic review of data on 2.4 million adults aged 20 to 100+ years from 69 countries and regions. J Sport Health Sci. 2024 Dec 6;14:101014. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.101014