Evaluation of Factors Influencing Grip Strength in Elderly Koreans.
10.11005/jbm.2012.19.2.103
- Author:
Jung Eun LEE
1
;
Ki Woong KIM
;
Nam Jong PAIK
;
Hak Chul JANG
;
Chong Bum CHANG
;
Goo Hyun BAEK
;
Young Ho LEE
;
Hyun Sik GONG
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. hsgong@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Factors;
Grip strength;
Influence;
Koreans
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aging;
Arm;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Body Height;
Bone Density;
Cohort Studies;
Demography;
Depression;
Female;
Hand;
Hand Strength;
Humans;
Longitudinal Studies;
Male;
Mental Health;
Multivariate Analysis;
Musculoskeletal Diseases;
Shoulder;
Upper Extremity
- From:Journal of Bone Metabolism
2012;19(2):103-110
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Grip strength has been used as a measure of function in various health-related conditions. Although grip strength is known to be affected by both physical and psychological factors, few studies have looked at those factors comprehensively in a population-based cohort regarding elderly Koreans. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential factors influencing grip strength in elderly Koreans. METHODS: We evaluated dominant hand grip strengths in 143 men and 123 women older than 65 years who participated in a population-based cohort study, the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA). Individuals who had a history of surgery for musculoskeletal disease or trauma in the upper extremity were excluded. Factors assessed for potential association with grip strength were; 1) demographics such as age and gender, 2) body constructs such as height, body mass index (BMI), and bone mineral density (BMD), 3) upper extremity functional status using disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) scores, and 4) mental health status using a depression scale and the short form-36 (SF36) mental health score. Multivariate analyses were performed in order to identify factors independently associated with grip strength. RESULTS: Grip strengths of dominant hands in elderly Koreans were found to generally decrease with aging, and were significantly different between men and women, as expected. Multivariate analyses indicated that grip strength was independently associated with age, height and BMI in men (R2 = 21.3%), and age and height (R2 = 19.7%) in women. BMD, upper extremity functional status, or mental health status were not found to be associated with grip strength. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that in elderly Koreans, grip strength is mainly influenced by age and height in both men and women, and additionally by BMI in men. BMD or self-reported physical or mental health status was not found to influence grip strength in elderly Koreans. This information may be helpful in future studies using grip strength as a measure of function in elderly Koreans.
