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Is maximum grip strength a reliable predictor of hand limitations among older adults?

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Abstract

Background

Grip strength is commonly used to assess hand function among older adults. While shown to be associated with disability, the degree to which grip strength specifically predicts hand limitations is unknown.

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate grip strength as a predictor of hand limitations.

Methods

Using the 2011–14 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we classified older adults reporting one or more hand limitations versus those with no limitations. Odds ratios were used to assess the association between grip strength (separated into quartiles) and the likelihood of a hand limitation while controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, education level, income, and pain. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the degree to which grip strength discriminates between older adults with and without a hand limitation.

Results

We identified 2064 older adults (age ≥ 65), 31% of whom reported a hand-related limitation. Older adults with very low grip strength (weakest quartile) were more likely to report at least one limitation (OR: 6.1, 95% CI: 3.2, 11.8) than those with high grip strength (strongest quartile). However, grip strength had poor to moderate discrimination of hand limitations (ROC area under curves: 0.65–0.81).

Discussion

While self-reported hand limitations were associated with lower grip strength; overall, it is a relatively poor predictor of hand impairments among older adults.

Conclusion

Better assessments are needed to adequately evaluate upper extremity impairments to help older adults maintain functional independence.

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The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Rachel N. Logue Cook, Susan H. Brown, Rebecca E. Hasson & Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins

  2. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls Building, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5482, USA

    Matthew A. Davis

  3. University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Matthew A. Davis

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  1. Rachel N. Logue Cook
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  2. Susan H. Brown
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  4. Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conceptions and design. Data preparation and analysis were performed by Rachel Logue Cook under the supervision of Matthew Davis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Rachel Logue Cook and all authors reviewed and edited previous versions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Matthew A. Davis.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Ethics approval

This study was reviewed by the Michigan Medicine Institutional Review Board and was determined to be exempt from review because all data are de-identified and taken from a publicly available dataset [HUM00196291]. The procedures of this study also abided by STROBE reporting guidelines.

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Logue Cook, R.N., Brown, S.H., Hasson, R.E. et al. Is maximum grip strength a reliable predictor of hand limitations among older adults?. Aging Clin Exp Res 34, 2505–2514 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-022-02191-z

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