Grip strength and body composition in Turkana pastoralist children and adolescents

In an earlier study, age changes and sex differences in grip strength were documented for adult Turkana pastoralists of Kenya (Little and Johnson, 1986). The objective here is to characterize age changes and sex differences in grip strength of Turkana children and adolescents in the context of arm lean tissue composition, and in comparison with other African, African-American, and non-Western populations.

Anthropometric measurements, derived body composition values, and grip strength measures (maximum voluntary contraction) were taken on a sample of 232 nomadic Turkana pastoralist children (94 boys and 138 girls) aged 3 to 21 years. Relationships were tested between grip strength (in Newtons) and mid-upper arm (brachium) lean tissue cross-sectional areas. Comparisons were made among several different ethnic groups.

Turkana children and adolescents had low arm muscle (derived lean tissue) and grip strength values when compared with U.S. NHANES percentile references. Girls' percentile rankings were greater than boys' percentile rankings for muscle and for grip strength. Both boys and girls were intermediate when compared with other non-Western populations and U.S. strength grip reference values. Correlations between grip strength and arm lean tissue areas were highly significant for both boys and girls.

The greater relative muscle size and grip strength values of late adolescent girls compared to boys is consistent with an earlier study of adults. The difference is likely to result from greater physical subsistence activity and greater access to food in girls than in boys. Several suggestions are given to explain why Turkana youths have relatively small muscle sizes.