Validity of Handgrip Strength for Estimation of Body Muscle Mass in Young Women

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Sports and Health Science Vol. 41; pp. 23 - 29
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Nozomi, Ishigaki, Tohru, Fujii, Katsunori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Tokai Society of Physical Education 2019; 東海体育学会
• Subjects: Handgrip strength; Muscle mass; Young women; 握力; 筋肉量; 若年女性
• ISSN: 2187-5715; 2436-3111
• DOI: 10.50909/tspe.41.0_23

Handgrip strength is said to be a convenient representative measure of muscle strength, but there are no findings showing that it necessarily reflects body muscle mass. In this study, by investigating the relationship between body composition and various muscle strength indices in young women, we attempted to construct a muscle strength index that reflects body muscle mass. The subjects were 773 female university students. Body profile measurements in the subjects were height, weight, fat mass （whole body, arms, legs, trunk）, muscle mass （whole body, arms, legs, trunk）, body fat percentage （whole body, arms, legs, trunk）, body mass index （BMI）, and muscle index （whole body, arms, legs, trunk）. Muscle strength measurements were back muscle strength, leg muscle strength, vertical jump, handgrip strength, and sit-ups. The relationships between body measurements and muscle strength measurements were tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Handgrip strength was found to be closely correlated with absolute muscle mass in all parts of the body. Conversely, leg muscle strength was found to be closely correlated with relative muscle mass in all parts of the body. However, leg muscle strength was also closely related to body fat. Therefore, handgrip strength is thought to be a useful index as a specific muscle function that reflects absolute muscle mass in the whole body.