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Handgrip strength correlates with walking in lumbar spinal stenosis
Hirokazu Inoue1, Hideaki Watanabe2, Hitoshi Okami3
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Japan. hi-kazu@jichi.ac.jp.
Summary
Higher handgrip strength in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients correlates with better leg power, faster walking, and larger muscle mass. Low strength is linked to anemia, hypertension, and being single.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Geriatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common condition affecting older adults, often leading to mobility issues.
- Assessing muscle strength and function is crucial for understanding LSS impact and patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between handgrip strength and functional measures like leg extension power (LEP), walking speed, and intermittent claudication in LSS patients.
- To explore the relationship between handgrip strength and muscle mass (psoas and multifidus) using computed tomography (CT) in LSS patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 183 patients undergoing laminectomy for LSS were evaluated pre-operatively.
- Measurements included handgrip strength, LEP, 10-m walk test, psoas muscle index (PMI), and muscle areas via CT.
- Correlations were analyzed between handgrip strength and various clinical and imaging parameters, including comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Handgrip strength showed significant positive correlations with LEP, skeletal muscle area, psoas muscle area, and PMI.
- It also correlated negatively with steps taken in the 10-m walk test, indicating better performance with higher strength.
- Low handgrip strength was associated with comorbidities such as anemia, hypertension, and single marital status.
Conclusions:
- Handgrip strength is a valuable indicator of physical function and muscle mass in LSS patients.
- It is associated with leg strength, walking ability, and muscle size, and is influenced by comorbidities.
