Abstract
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Background
Grip strength is a measure of overall muscular strength and has been associated with disability, morbidity and mortality. Normative data are used to interpret an individual’s grip strength measurements, but Canadian reference values are not available for a wide age range.
Data and Methods
The data pertain to 11,108 respondents aged 6 to 79 to the 2007-to-2013 Canadian Health Measures Survey, whose right-hand and left-hand grip strength were measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Quantile regression was used to develop reference equations for males and females for maximum, right-hand and left-hand grip strength for selected percentiles as a function of age, height and weight.
Results
Reference values for grip strength increased through childhood and adolescence, peaked around age 40, and then declined. Reference values were higher for males than for females; differences between the sexes were smaller during childhood than in adolescence and adulthood. Differences between reference values for maximum, right-hand and left-hand grip strength varied by age and sex.
Interpretation
Based on a large, healthy, nationally representative sample, reference equations were developed for grip strength of Canadians from childhood to older adulthood. These equations can be used to determine the reference values that correspond to an individual of a given age, sex, height and weight.
Keywords
Dynamometer, handgrip strength, muscular strength, normative data, norms, reference equations
Findings
Grip strength is a simple, fast and reliable measure of the maximum voluntary force of the hand. It is used to assess hand injuries and is an indicator of overall muscular strength, nutritional status, muscle mass and walking performance. Grip strength is also a marker of hypertension and type 2 diabetes and a predictor of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, stroke, disability and surgical complications. [Full Text]
Authors
Author: Suzy L. Wong (suzy.wong@canada.ca)is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
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What is already known on this subject?
- Grip strength is a measure of overall muscular strength and has been associated with disability, morbidity and mortality.
- Normative data are used to interpret an individual’s grip strength measurements, but reference values for a wide age range of the Canadian population are not available.
What does this study add?
- Based on a large sample of nationally representative data, reference equations for grip strength were developed for Canadians from childhood to older adulthood.
- These equations can be used to determine the reference values for a person of a given age, sex, height and weight.
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