PURPOSE:To analyze the relationship of grip strength and physical function in institutionalized older people. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-seven nursing home residents of seven different long-stay institutions underwent evaluation of body composition, cognitive function, grip strength, mobility, balance (balance scale test BERG and single-leg stance test) and gait speed. RESULTS: Volunteers had no impairment of cognitive function, functional mobility, balance or gait speed. Men had higher grip strength and achieved higher scores in BERG. Fittest volunteers (i.e., P 75 to P 100 ) had better functional mobility, BERG and gait speed; less fit volunteers (i.e., P 0 to P 25 ) were taller and had better gait speed. The grip strength was independently associated with functional mobility and balance in the single-leg stance test only in females. The cognitive function (female, P 25 to P 75 , male, total sample) and age (male, total sample) showed a tendency to be mediators of functional mobility. Age and body weight seem to confound the gait speed, especially for females (P 25 to P 75 ), while cognitive function confound it in males (P 75 to P 100 ). However, age and body weight are significantly associated with gait speed (female, total sample). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that grip strength was independently associated with functional mobility and balance of institutionalized older women.
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