Does grip strength predict lower limb global strength in subjects with stroke?

Abstract

Introduction: Grip strength is an important clinical measure and has been used for several purposes in different populations, including those to predict the global strength of lower limbs (LL) and upper limbs. However, little is known about the association between grip strength and lower limb (LL) global strength in subjects with stroke. Objective: To investigate the relationship between grip strength and LL global strength in stroke with subjects at both subacute and chronic phases. Method: Measures of grip strength (handgrip dynamometer) and LL global strength (hand-held dynamometer) were obtained in 20 subjects in the subacute phase of the stroke and 18 in the chronic phase. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation between grip strength and LL global strength (α = 0.05). Results: Subjects in the subacute phase showed a moderate statistically significant correlation between paretic grip strength and global strength of the non-paretic LL (r = 0.50; p < 0.05), but no correlation with the paretic LL was found (p = 0.25). The non-paretic grip strength showed no statistically significant correlation with global strength of the paretic LL (p = 0.93) and of the non-paretic LL (p = 0.64). In chronic subjects, no statistically significant correlation (0.50 ≤ p ≤ 0.97) was observed. Conclusion: Grip strength does not seem to be an adequate indicator to predict LL global strength of subjects with stroke. This conclusion is different from that obtained for other populations.