Handgrip strength in old and oldest old Swiss adults - a cross-sectional study

Julia Wearing, Peter Konings, Maria Stokes, Eling D. de Bruin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BackgroundHandgrip strength is indicative of overall physical health and mobility in the elderly. A reduction in strength below a certain threshold severely increases the risk of mobility limitations and is predictive for adverse outcomes such as dependence in daily activities and mortality. An overview of age- and geography- specific handgrip strength values in older adults provide a reference for further investigations and measures in clinical practice to identify people at risk for clinically meaningful weakness. The aim of this study was to evaluate handgrip strength in the Swiss-German population aged 75 and over.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, maximal isometric handgrip strength of the dominant hand was evaluated in 244 Swiss people aged 75years and over (62.7% women), with mean age (SD) of 84.5 (5.6) years in men and 83.1 (5.9) years in women. Demographic data and information about comorbidities, medication, fall history, global cognitive function, self-reported physical activity and dependence in activities of daily living were collected, and correlated with grip strength measures. Age- and gender specific grip strength values are reported as means, standard deviations and standard error of mean.ResultsSex-stratified handgrip strength was significantly lower with advancing age in men (p

Original languageEnglish
Article number266
Number of pages9
JournalBMC Geriatrics
Volume18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Nov 2018

Keywords

  • Grip strength
  • Aged
  • Geriatric assessment
  • GRIP-STRENGTH
  • PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
  • MUSCLE STRENGTH
  • PINCH STRENGTH
  • GAIT-SPEED
  • SARCOPENIA
  • FRAILTY
  • HEALTH
  • AGE
  • NONAGENARIANS

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