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Tsekoura M.1, Fousekis K.1, Billis E.1, Gliatis J.2, Papandreou M.3, Kapreli E.4, Tsepis E.1
1Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Western Greece, School of Health and Welfare, Department of Physiotherapy, Aigio, Greece, 2University Hospital of Patras, Department of Orhopaedic Surgery, Rio, Greece, 3Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Physiotherapy, Athens, Greece, 4Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Sterea Ellada, School of Health and Caring Professions, Department of Physiotherapy, Lamia, Greece
Background: Hand Grip Strength (HGS) is considered an excellent indicator of overall strength, functionality and mortality predictor amongst elderly people. There are many factors (such as gender, age, weight, height, dominant side) which may affect the HGS.
Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between a Greek community-dwelling elderly sample´s physical and functional characteristics [height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, level of physical activity] with HGS performance in a rural region of Western Greece.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study utilizing a convenience sample of 66 participants was carried out in Achaia country; central west mainland of Greece. Individuals of both genders aged 60 years or more, were eligible for the study. Participants were divided into two physical activity groups, identified by IPAQ questionnaire as active (≥150 min/week) and insufficiently active ( 150 min/week). Strength was measured by the SAEHAN (DHD 1, SH 1001) handgrip dynamometer and consisted of a continuous handgrip maximal effort. Information about demographic and socio-economic variables were collected by questionnaire. Data were analysed via binary logistic regression.
Results: Mean age of participants was 68.8±7.22 years. Dominant handgrip averaged 20.21kg (SD=16.8). Regression analysis revealed three significant predictors of higher HGS values (>20,21kg): age, gender and BMI. Participants younger than 68 years of age (OR=3.55; 95% CI 1.09 to 11.58), male (OR=0.15; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.53) and those with BMI higher than 27.75 (OR=3.35; 95% CI 1.06 to 10.64) possessed significant higher values of HGS compared with older (>68 years of age), women and those with BMI of 27.75. There were no significant associations between weight and height and HGS performance. Interestingly, physically active elderly individuals did not yield significant odds of having HGS scores over 20.21 (OR=0.67; 95% CI 0.19 to 2.33).
Conclusion(s): The findings of this study demonstrated that the dominant HGS was positively associated with age, BMI and gender and negatively associated with height, weight and weekly physical activity. More research is needed in order to clarify the precise association of specific physical characteristics with HGS performance.
Implications: Low levels of muscle strength among the elderly are associated with many chronic diseases and early death. Hand Grip Strength is a predictor of many forms of muscular strength. Grip strength is an assessment technique recommended for the measurement of muscle strength, and is the simplest method for assessment of muscle function in clinical practice.
Funding acknowledgements: None
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Health and Welfare-Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
