Is handgrip strength normalized to body weight a useful tool to identify dynapenia and functional incapacity in post-menopausal women?

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate whether handgrip strength normalized to body weight could be a useful clinical tool to identify dynapenia and assess functional capacity in post-menopausal women. MethodA total of 136 postmenopausal women were recruited. Body composition (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry [DEXA], Bio-electrical Impedence Analysis [BIA]), grip strength (dynamometer) and functional capacity (senior fitness tests) were evaluated. Dynapenia was established according to a handgrip strength index (handgrip strength divided by body weight (BW) in Kg/KgBW) obtained from a reference population of young women: Type I dynapenic (<0.44 kg/KgBW) and type II dynapenic (<0.35 kg/KgBW).ResultsThe results show a positive correlation between handgrip strength index (in kg/KgBW) and alternate-step test (r=0.30, p<0.001), chair-stand test (r=0.25, p<0.005) and one-leg stance test (r=0.335, p<0.001). The results also showed a significant difference in non-dynapenic compared to type I dynapenic and type II dynapenic for the chair-stand test (Non-dynapenic: 12.0±3.0; Type I: 11.7±2.5; Type II: 10.3±3.0) (p=0.037 and p=0.005, respectively) and the one-leg stance test (Non-dynapenic: 54.2±14.2; Type I: 43.8±21.4; Type II: 35.0±21.8) (p=0.030 and p=0.004, respectively). Finally, a significant difference was observed between type II dynapenic and non-dynapenic for the chair-stand test (p=0.032), but not with type I dynapenic.ConclusionThe results showed that handgrip strength was positively correlated with functional capacity. In addition, non-dynapenic women displayed a better functional status when compared to type I and type II dynapenic women. Thus, the determination of the handgrip strength thresholds could be an accessible and affordable clinical tool to identify people at risk of autonomy loss.

Muscle strength can better differentiate between gradations of functional performance than muscle quality in healthy 50–70 y women

“…The fact that strength measurement at a single time point has been shown to be predictive of mobility decline and 11 that the lower limbs are most affected 21 , 24 should make lower limb strength assessment a priority for researchers generating reference values for muscle health and clinicians in practice. As Dulac et al 46 have recently reported using handgrip strength, we report knee extensor strength normalised to body mass as an index that could provide a cost effective and simplistic measure of muscle health which could be used in a clinical setting and can represent a significant proportion of the variance in functional capacity. This may be useful to clinicians attempting to assess the functional capability of older adults in the community.…”

Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with L-Citrulline Supplementation on Functional Capacities and Muscle Function in Dynapenic-Obese Older Adults

“…Participants were advised to squeeze as hard as possible the hand dynamometer for up to 4 s. Three measurements for each hand, alternatively, were performed and the maximal score for each was recorded. Upper limb muscle strength was expressed in absolute (kg) and relative (divided by body weight (BW; kg/kg)) values [41].…”

Muscle adaptation in response to a high-intensity interval training in obese older adults: effect of daily protein intake distribution

“…Participants were advised to squeeze as hard as possible the hand dynamometer for up to 4 s. Three measurements for each hand, alternately, were performed and the maximal score of each was recorded. Upper limb muscle strength was expressed in absolute (ULMS; kg) and relative (ULMSr: divided by body weight (BW; kg/kg)) values [56].…”