Examining Additional Aspects of Muscle Function with a Digital Handgrip Dynamometer and Accelerometer in Older...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Kinesiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is a common but potentially limited measure of muscle function.
• Assessing muscle function in older adults requires a multidimensional approach beyond maximal strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationships between maximal HGS and other grip strength parameters in older adults.
• To explore novel measures of muscle function using modern technologies like digital dynamometry and accelerometry.

Main Methods:

• Collected data on maximal HGS, digit grip strength, submaximal force control, fatigability, steadiness, and asymmetry from 13 older adults (mean age 70.9 years).
• Utilized a digital handgrip dynamometer and accelerometer for data acquisition.
• Employed Pearson correlations and principal component analysis to analyze the relationships between HGS measurements.

Main Results:

• Individual HGS measurements showed differential correlations, indicating distinct aspects of muscle function.
• Identified three key dimensions: maximal strength, contractile steadiness, and functional strength.
• These dimensions encompass maximal HGS, digit strength, force control, fatigability, steadiness, and asymmetry.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest that measures beyond maximal HGS are crucial for a comprehensive assessment of muscle function in older adults.
• Further research using advanced technologies is recommended to refine muscle function assessments.
• Modern handgrip dynamometry and accelerometry offer promising tools for improved evaluation of muscle health.