Asymmetry correction equations for hand volume, grip and pinch strengths in healthy working people

Assessments of oedema and decrease in hand strength are useful for patients with a hand lesion. This study examined the asymmetry of the arms and determined the estimates of the unknown prior to lesion values for hand volume, grip strengths assessed with a Jamar dynamometer (GS_J) and a Collins dynamometer (GS_C), and pinch strength with a Jamar pinch gauge (PS) in 100 healthy working people. Hand volume, GS_J, GS_C, and PS of the dominant hand were respectively 3.6 ± 4.1%, 6.6 ± 9.2%, 11.7 ± 11.2%, and 8.0 ± 13.2% higher than those of the non-dominant hand (p < 0.001). Very good estimates were obtained with the values of the contralateral arm for all the indices studied. The correlation coefficient equalled 0.95 for hand volume, 0.91 for GS_J, 0.83 for GS_C, and 0.72 for PS. These estimates allow us to evaluate the evolution of oedema and hand strengths in patients with hand injury, especially to determine whether they could return to work as they are mostly manual workers with demanding jobs.     

Estimation of body composition from anthropometric and physiological measurements of obese college women

Relationships between anthropometric and physiological measurements and body composition were examined in 42 obese college women. Estimates of body density (BD), fat weight (FW), and fat free weight (FFW) were obtained by the helium dilution method. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, 4 body diameters, 4 body girths, hand grip strengths, and 7 skinfold thicknesses; physiological measurements were daily urinary creatinine and basal metabolic rate. Simple correlation coefficients between each of these measurements and the estimates of body composition were less than 0.7, indicating little predictive accuracy from single measurements. Multiple correlation coefficients (R) were higher for FW (R=0.83 to 0.88) than for BD (R=0.64 to 0.75) or FFW (R=0.72 to 0.80). The equations that most accurately estimated body composition included skinfold thickness, hand grip strength, basal metabolic rate, and a variable calculated from height and weight. When equations selected from the literature were used, BD and FFW were consistently overestimated and FW underestimated.     

Grip strength as an index for assessment of nutritional status of children aged 6-10 years

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of grip strength as an index of nutritional status in 6-10 y old children. Seven hundred and eighty seven children (364 boys and 423 girls) in the age group of 6 to 10 y were selected from private and municipal schools, orphanages and slums in the cities of Mumbai and Pune, India. Grip strength was measured using the dominant hand. Height, weight, mid-arm circumference and triceps skinfold were also measured in all subjects. A significantly high correlation (p<0.01) was observed between grip strength and age for both sexes. Boys had a higher grip strength than girls at all ages. Grip strength was significantly correlated with height, weight, mid arm circumference, triceps skinfold, arm fat and arm muscle areas (p<0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed height, weight, triceps skinfold and age to be independent variables influencing grip strength. Grip strength was found to be a specific measure of lean body mass (75 to 94%), but sensitivity was quite low (about 25%). The positive predictive value was variable, ranging from 54.6 to 21.5%. The specificity, sensitivity and positive predictive values were very high when compared with arm muscle area. Grip strength may have a potential value as an additional test for nutritional assessment in field situations and clinical settings.     

Measurements of the impedance of the hand and arm

Summary The mechanical impedance of the hand and arm was studied on ten healthy subjects during exposure to sinusoidal vibration within the frequency range of 2 to 1000 Hz. A special handle for the measurements was constructed. The influence of vibration direction, handle grip, grip force, vibration level, hand-arm posture and sex as well as anthropometric data were studied. The results show that the impedance of the hand-arm mainly depends on the frequency and direction of the vibration stimuli. Higher vibration levels, as well as more firm hand-grips, resulted in higher impedance. Furthermore, the outcome shows that experiments conducted with different hand-arm postures had an active influence on the mechanical impedance. Moreover, the subjects' sex and constitution of the hand and arm affected the impedance to a large extent.     

学龄前儿童握力发展特点及与体成分的相关性

  目的  了解学龄前儿童握力的发育特点,并探讨握力与身高、体重和体成分指标的相关性。  方法  2020年9—10月,对北京4所幼儿园的900名学龄前儿童进行问卷调查,并进行身高、体重和握力测量,使用生物电阻抗方法检测体成分,采用偏相关、多元线性回归对握力与体成分指标的相关性进行分析。  结果  北京学龄前儿童握力随年龄增长逐渐升高,男童由(5.2±1.7)kg增至(9.3±2.5)kg,女童由(4.3±1.6)kg增至(7.9±2.5)kg(F值分别为57.93,48.77,P值均 < 0.01),男童握力高于女童(t=6.42,P < 0.01),肥胖男童握力高于超重和正常体重男童(F=5.35,P < 0.01)。调整身高、体重、出生体重、母亲文化程度及过去1周家中进食各类食物频率后,男童握力与瘦体重、上肢肌肉量呈正相关,与体脂肪呈负相关(r值分别为0.11,0.09,-0.18,P值均 < 0.05);女童握力与体脂肪呈负相关,与瘦体重呈正相关(r值分别为-0.09,0.09,P值均 < 0.05)。多元线性回归分析发现,年龄、瘦体重和上肢肌肉量对男童的握力影响有统计学意义(F=66.75,P < 0.01);年龄、瘦体重对女童的握力影响有统计学意义(F=150.81,P < 0.01)。  结论  学龄前期男童握力可以反映瘦体重和上肢骨骼肌水平的变化,女童可以反映瘦体重的变化。增加瘦体重可以提高学龄前儿童握力水平。     

Estimation of Stature from Arm Span,Arm Length and Tibial Length among Adolescents of Aged 15–18 in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

BackgroundKnowing the relationship between stature and different anatomical anthropometric parameters help forensic scientists, anatomists and clinicians to estimate standing height from mutilated remains of body parts in clinical practices and forensic investigations. It is a necessity when measuring height is unenviable due to certain medical conditions and in field studies. This study aims to estimate stature from arm span, arm length and tibial length among adolescents of age 15–18 in Ethiopia.MethodsA school based cross-sectional study was carried out among 416 high school students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from May to June 2019. Stratified multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. Anthropometric measurement including weight, height, arm span, arm length and tibial length was measured. Data entry was done by Epi-Data a version 4.4.3.1 and data analysis was carried out by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. Regression models and multiplication factors were generated for estimation of height from anthropometric parameters.ResultFrom total participants 51.4% were females and 48.6% were males. The mean height of study participants was 164.36±8.89cm for males and 155.75±5.86cm for females. The correlation coefficients(R) of anatomical anthropometric measurements with height were: arm span (males R=0.843, females R=0.708), arm length (males R=0.806, females R=0.635), and tibial length (males R=0.738, females R=0.611).ConclusionStature predicted from arm span, arm length, and tibial length is a valid indicator of height. Arm span was appeared to be the best predictor of stature.     

Grip and pinch strength among selected adult occupational groups

A survey of 402 normal subjects (203 men, 199 women) was conducted to assist in distinguishing potential differences in norms of hand strength. Norm data had previously been collected from mixed occupational groups, but in the present study it was hypothesised that people involved in heavy manual work on a daily basis might possess greater hand strength than others. The volunteers were adults working in industry and agriculture; they were subdivided into occupational categories. Measurements of grip, key and palmar pinch using the Jamar dynamometer and B and L pinch gauge were collected, using the protocol described by Mathiowetz. Volunteers also rated their individual hand strength job requirements subjectively. Mean values were established with regard to age, sex, dominance, occupational group and subjective rating. Significant differences were found with regard to age and sex but not to dominance; there was no evidence of differences between occupational groups or between subjective rating and individual scoring, i.e. volunteers who perceived their job as requiring a high degree of strength did not achieve higher test measurements than others. A high interrater reliability was demonstrated when comparing these follow-up measurements with the original data. It was concluded that, for clinical and rehabilitative purposes, therapists can interpret assessment of outcome most accurately by comparing patients' results with the existing norm data.     

Associations between grip strength of parents and their 4-year-old children: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey

Relationships between birthweight and grip strength throughout the life course suggest that early influences on the growth and development of muscle are important for long-term muscle function. However, little is known about parental influences on children's grip strength. We have explored this in the Southampton Women's Survey, a prospective general population cohort study from before conception through childhood. Grip strength was measured using a Jamar handgrip dynamometer in the mother at 19 weeks' gestation and her partner, and in the child at age 4 years. Pre-pregnancy heights and weights were measured in the mothers; reported weights and measured heights were available for the fathers. Complete data on parents and children were available for 444 trios. In univariable analyses, both parents' grip strengths were significantly associated with that of the child (r = 0.17, P < 0.001 for mothers; r = 0.15, P = 0.002 for fathers). These correlations were similar to that between the grip strength of the mothers and the fathers (r = 0.17, P < 0.001). In the multivariable model, after adjustment for child's height and physical activity, the correlations with the child's grip strength were attenuated, being 0.10 (P = 0.02) and 0.11 (P = 0.01) for mothers' and fathers' grip strength respectively. The findings show that grip strength of each parent is associated with that of the child, indicating that heritable influences and the shared family environment influence the development of muscle strength. This contributes to our understanding of the role of heritable and environmental factors on early muscle growth and development, which are important for muscle function across the life course.     

Hand grip strength--a simple prognostic indicator in surgical patients

This study evaluates hand grip strength as an indicator of nutritional status and a predictor of postoperative complications. Hand grip strength and other parameters of nutritional status, namely, midarm muscle circumference, forearm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold, percentage ideal body weight, serum albumin, and percent usual weight were determined preoperatively in 205 patients. Complications occurred in 28 patients (14%). Patients with at least one abnormal nutritional parameter had a higher incidence of postoperative complications. Their length of total and postoperative hospitalization was greater by 6.2 and 4.6 days, respectively (p less than 0.01). Grip strength was the most sensitive single parameter, but forearm muscle circumference and percentage ideal body weight were the most specific indices. Hand grip strength is a simple measure of nutritional status and an accurate prognostic indicator that requires further clinical evaluation.     

静态肌力及其影响因素的探讨

目的了解不同人群的部分人体测量学参数及其静态肌力,探讨静态肌力的影响因素。方法选择193名工人、行政人员和大学生作为研究对象,其中男146例、女47例;测量其手握力、臂提举力、肩提举力和腰拉力。结果静态肌力测试结果表明,男性平均左手握力、右手握力、臂提举力、肩提举力和腰拉力分别为(42.07±7.20)、(43.92±7.14)、(26.79±4.64)、(33.79±6.88)、(88.56±17.98)kg,而女性则分别为(21.29±5.09)、(23.26±5.47)、(13.29±3.37)、(18.52±4.01)、(41.06±12.04)kg;女性各种肌力均小于男性,约为男性的50%。年龄比较可见,各种肌力以40~岁组较高。性别和体重与静态肌力存在明显相关。以体重为校正参数,可见各组握力的差异无统计学意义(P<0.05),仅男性工人腰拉力>大学生>行政人员,年龄间比较见相对肌力除腰拉力各年龄组有所不同外,其他肌力各年龄组相似。结论以体重为自变量,可建立肌力预测方程。相对肌力的计算可消除体重等肌力的干扰。     

Relationships between structural and functional measures of nutritional status in a normally nourished population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Both anthropometric and functional measurements have been used in nutritional assessment and monitoring. Hand dynamometry is a predictor of surgical outcome and peak expiratory flow rate has been used as an index of respiratory muscle function. This study aims to measure in normal subjects the relationship between anthropometric measurements, voluntary muscle strength by hand grip dynamometry and respiratory muscle function by peak expiratory flow rate. METHODS: Ninety-eight subjects (46 male, 52 female) with a mean age of 45.9 years were studied. Hand grip strength was measured in the dominant and non-dominant hands with a portable strain-gauge dynamometer. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured using a mini-Wright peak flow meter. Three readings were taken, each 1 min apart, and the average recorded. Midarm muscle circumference (MAMC) was derived from triceps skin fold thickness and midarm circumference (MAC) using standard anthropometric techniques. Statistical relationships were measured with Pearson's coefficient of correlation. RESULTS: In both sexes there was significant correlation between hand grip strength in the dominant and non-dominant hands and peak expiratory flow rate (P<0.001). In men, there was a positive correlation between MAMC, hand grip strength (P<0.001) and peak expiratory flow rate (P<0.001). In women muscle function correlated with height (P<0.001) but not MAMC (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In normal subjects bedside tests of skeletal and respiratory muscle function correlated with each other in both sexes, and with muscle mass in men but not in women.     

Birth weight,childhood size,and muscle strength in adult life: evidence from a birth cohort study

Environmental influences during gestation may have long-term effects on adult muscle strength. It is not known how early in adult life such effects are manifest and whether they are modified by childhood body size. The authors examined the relation between birth weight and hand grip strength in a prospective national birth cohort of 1,371 men and 1,404 women from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development who were aged 53 years in 1999. A positive relation between birth weight and adult grip strength remained after adjustment first for adult height and weight and then additionally for childhood height and weight (p = 0.006 for men and p = 0.01 for women). The effects of birth weight on grip strength did not vary by childhood or current body size and were not confounded by social class. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to show that birth weight has an important influence on muscle strength in midlife independent of later body size and social class. It suggests that birth weight is related to the number of muscle fibers established by birth and that even in middle age compensating hypertrophy may be inadequate. As the inevitable loss of muscle fibers proceeds in old age, a deficit in the number of fibers could threaten quality of life and independence.     

The effect of starvation on skeletal muscle function in man

Measuring skeletal muscle function may be a diagnostic aid to detect malnutrition. To evaluate this hypothesis 11 lean women were studied before and after 5 days of total starvation. Skeletal muscle function was assessed as hand grip strength and as adductor pollicis muscle function after electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve. The muscle function variables were force of contraction at 5, 10, 20 and 50 Hz stimulation, relaxation rate and endurance. In addition some currently used anthropometric and biochemical nutritional indices were serially determined. Hand grip strength was decreased (p < 0.05) and the function of the adductor pollicis muscle was altered with a higher contraction force at 10 Hz (p < 0.01), a slower relaxation rate (p < 0.05) and a reduced endurance (p < 0.05). These changes were all within the normal ranges. Triceps skin fold and arm muscle circumference were not changed after a mean weight loss of 3.3 kg (p < 0.05). However blood glucose, insulin and triiodothyronine all decreased (p < 0.01) indicating a metabolic adaptation to starvation. Prealbumin (p < 0.05) and fibronectin (p < 0.01) were also lowered. In conclusion, skeletal muscle function was significantly altered after five days of total starvation. However, to identify short term nutritional depletion in clinical practice the changes in muscle function were too small to be diagnostically useful.     

几种最大静态肌力的测定和分析

目的　测定一定姿势下的最大静态肌力 ,探讨影响其大小的相关因素 ,为工效学设计和筛选劳动者提供依据。方法　以大学生志愿者 83人 (男 4 3人 ,女 4 0人 )为对象 ,在实验室测定其双手推、拉、提和左、右手单手提 5个动作的最大静态肌力 ,并测量体重、身高、肩高、髋关节高及臂长等人体数据。结果　实验对象的双手推力、拉力、提力和左、右手提力的最大值男性分别为 2 5 2 7,312 8,337 6 ,5 6 4 8,6 0 2 4N ,女性分别为 14 4 5 ,178 2 ,178 9,2 6 7 8,2 6 6 3N ;人体尺寸数据与力的相关分析表明 ,身高、体重、臂长与力的相关具有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。结论　本实验对象的最大静态肌力明显小于欧美人相应的测定数据 ,身高和体重可预测双手的推、拉和提力大小 ,但不适用于单手提力 ,女性受试者的最大静态肌力明显小于男性 ,这些对工效学设计和劳动者筛选具有参考意义。     

营养指标预测口腔颌面恶性肿瘤患者术后局部并发症

对10个营养指标与口腔颌面恶性肿瘤患者术后局部并发症之间的关系进行了比较研究.结果表明,上臂肌围(MAMC)、握力(GS)、肌酐身高指数(CHI)及白蛋白(ALB)与术后局部并发症的发生有关(P<0.05),这四个指标可用于预测术后并发症发生情况;而理想体重百分率(I%).体重下降率(P%)、三头肌皮脂厚度(TSF)、上臂围(MAC)、运铁蛋白(TNF)及总淋巴细胞计数(TLC)则无意义.GS是最简便、准确的预测并发症指标.     

Heritability of body size and muscle strength in young adulthood: a study of one million Swedish men

Moderate heritability for skeletal muscle strength has been reported in twin studies, but genetic co-variation between muscle strength at different parts of body and body size is not well known. Further, representativeness of twin cohorts needs to be critically evaluated. Height, weight, elbow flexion, hand grip and knee extension strength were measured in young adulthood in 1,139,963 Swedish men born between 1951 and 1976. We identified 154,970 full-brother pairs and 1582 monozygotic (MZ) and 1864 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) complete twin pairs. The data were analyzed using quantitative genetic modeling for twin and family data. Twins compared to singletons and MZ twins compared to DZ twins were shorter, lighter and had lower muscle strength. In singletons, there was more variation in weight and the strength measures compared to twins with known zygosity but not when compared to twins with unknown zygosity. Full-sib correlations for these traits were lower than DZ correlations. Additive genetic factors explained 81% of variation in height, 59% in body mass index and 50-60% in the strength measures. Additive genetic correlations varied from 0.13 between height and elbow flexion strength to 0.78 between elbow flexion and hand grip strength. Our results suggest that extra variation may exist in general populations not found in twin samples, probably because of selection due to non-participation. This may have inflated heritability estimates in previous twin studies. Nonetheless, we showed that genetic factors affect muscle strength and part of these genes are common to different strength indicators and body size.     

Study of Hand Function in a Group of Shoe Factory Workers Engaged in Repetitive Work

Background: Work related hand and wrist musculoskeletal disorders are well known. The contributing factors could be repetitive movements, forceful work and awkward posture. It is not known how these movements affect grip or pinch strength and other functional aspects of the hand. Aims: To study a group of shoe factory workers doing repetitive thumb and wrist movements for prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and consequence on grip and pinch strength, two-point discrimination and perceived disability. Methods: 39 shoe factory workers who put straps into 900 to 1000 pairs of rubber sandals per day and 29 hospital clerks as a control group were evaluated for musculoskeletal disorders, grip and pinch strength, two-point discrimination and perceived disability (by questionnaire). Proportions were compared by chi squared or Fisher Exact test and quantitative outcome by t-test or multiple linear regressions. Results: Common musculoskeletal diseases of thumb/wrist were absent among shoe factory workers as in the clerks. Increased two-point discrimination over thumb (p=0.01, right; p=0.02, left) and a clear trend for reduced pinch strength between thumb and index finger (p=0.06, right; p=0.07, left) were noted compared to clerks after adjusting for years on the job. Perceived disabilities included pain and localised dermal thickening over the thumb. Discussion: No case of carpal tunnel syndrome or hand/wrist tendinitis was detected among workers doing highly repetitive thumb/wrist movement. Pinch strength decreased and two-point discrimination was adversely affected while grip strength remained unaffected. The main perceived disabilities of pain and skin changes over the thumb adversely affected their day-to-day life.Grant sponsor: Internal institutional support.     

Aging in selected anthropometric dimensions in a rural Zapotec-speaking community in the Valley of Oaxaca,Mexico

Stature, weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold and grip strength were measured in a cross-sectional sample of 116 men and 113 women, 20–82 years of age, from a rural Zapotec-speaking community in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Mortality statistics, growth, and maturity status of children in the village are indicative of chronic mild-to-moderate under-nutrition. Adult Zapotecs are smaller, lighter and leaner than reference data for better-off populations. Sex differences are clearly evident for stature, fatness and grip strength. Body weight shows little sex difference after 40 years of age. Estimated mid-arm muscle circumference, however, is larger in males at all ages except over 60 years. Weight, arm circumference, the triceps skinfold and estimated muscle circumference are generally lowest in women 20–39 years, most likely reflecting the depletion of energy stores due to successive pregnancies and lactation. When stature is adjusted for the estimated loss associated with aging, there is suggestion of a secular increase in males but not in females. Sampling variation, small numbers at the older ages, and perhaps selective out migration must be considered in evaluating possible secular effects. Although absolute grip strength of adult Zapotecs is less than that of better-off samples of adults, grip strength per unit body weight is similar.     

Anthropometric measurements in the elderly of Havana, Cuba: age and sex differences

OBJECTIVE: We present selected anthropometric data, specific for sex and age group, from a representative sample of elderly subjects living in Havana, Cuba. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, population-based household survey. A total of 1905 subjects (1197 women and 708 men, > or = 60 y of age) were examined between 1999 and 2000 as selected by probabilistic sampling. Data were presented as means and percentiles for body mass; height or stature; body mass index; waist, arm, and calf circumferences; triceps skinfold thickness; and arm muscle circumference; and differences were described according to age (all variables) and sex (body mass index). RESULTS: All anthropometric variables showed a decrease in average values with aging in men and women. The age of 70 y appeared to be the decisive moment for the main anthropometric differences observed. The values in the female group were higher than those in the male group for body mass index and triceps skinfold thickness. An important segment of the population studied had a body mass index lower than normal values. Reductions in subcutaneous fat (indicated by triceps skinfold thickness) and muscle mass (verified by arm, arm muscle, and calf circumferences) with advancing age appeared to be greater among women than among men. CONCLUSION: The present study provides information that can be used for anthropometric evaluation of elderly people in Havana and other urban areas in Cuba. The observations suggest that there is loss of muscle mass and redistribution and reduction of fat mass with age (that is more severe in women).     

学龄儿童握力水平与体成分的相关性研究

目的 研究学龄儿童青少年体成分与握力的相关性,对学龄肥胖儿童干预过程中维持合适的体成分具有重要意义。方法 2018年对北京市15 118名6~16岁学龄儿童进行问卷调查(生活方式、膳食、运动)、生物电阻抗体成分检测和优势手握力检测,并采用偏相关、多元线性回归对握力与体成分指标的相关性进行分析。结果 北京市儿童青少年的握力水平随年龄增长逐渐升高,男童正常体重组握力水平由6~8岁组的(9.7±2.6)kg增长到15~16岁组的(40.0±7.1)kg,女童正常体重组由6~8岁组的(8.9±2.6)kg增长到15~16岁组的(25.0±4.4)kg,与上肢骨骼肌质量指数变化趋势一致;男生高于女生;调整相关因素后,瘦体重质量指数及上肢骨骼肌质量指数与握力水平均呈正相关(男童:r=0.597,0.258;女童:r=0.424,0.102,P<0.05)。结论 握力可反映骨骼肌水平变化趋势。增加瘦体重,减少脂肪可提高握力水平。