Reference values of handgrip dynamometry of healthy adults: A population-based study

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 601 - 607
• Main Authors: Schlüssel, Michael Maia, dos Anjos, Luiz Antonio, de Vasconcellos, Maurício Teixeira Leite, Kac, Gilberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Hand strength; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle strength dynamometer; Muscle Strength Dynamometer - standards; Nutrition Assessment; Nutrition surveys; Nutritional Status; Reference Values; Sex Distribution; Urban population; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult; Nutrition assessment; Muscle strength dynamometer; Hand strength; Urban population; Nutrition surveys; Reference values; Human; Adult; Dynamometry; Metabolic diseases; reference value
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2008.04.004

Although maximal voluntary handgrip strength (HGS) is considered a reliable tool in nutritional assessment there are few reference data available. This paper presents reference values for handgrip strength of healthy adults (age ≥20 years) from a household survey. Data were obtained from a representative sample of adults (1122 males and 1928 females) living in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. HGS was measured three times with a Jamar mechanical dynamometer in both hands and the highest value used in the analysis. The percentile distribution of HGS was calculated according to sex and age categories. Mean values of right and left HGS were 42.8 and 40.9 kg for males, and 25.3 and 24.0 kg for females, respectively. HGS increased with age and significantly decreased after 40 and 50 year-olds for women and men, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was associated with HGS in both sexes but only underweight male subjects had significantly lower HGS values. The highest HGS values are observed at the 4th decade of life with significant declines thereafter. HGS is significantly associated with BMI. The reference values of HGS may be useful in assessing the nutritional status of similar adult urban population.