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Handgrip strength asymmetry is associated with future falls in older Americans
Ryan McGrath1, Brian C Clark2,3,4, Matteo Cesari5,6
1Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA. ryan.mcgrath@ndsu.edu.
Background:
Examining handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry could extend the utility of handgrip dynamometers for screening future falls.
Aims:
We sought to determine the associations of HGS asymmetry on future falls in older Americans.
Methods:
The analytic sample included 10,446 adults aged at least 65 years from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Falls were self-reported. A handgrip dynamometer measured HGS. The highest HGS on each hand was used for determining HGS asymmetry ratio: (non-dominant HGS/dominant HGS). Those with HGS asymmetry ratio < 1.0 had their ratio inverted to make all HGS asymmetry ratios ≥ 1.0. Participants were categorized into asymmetry groups based on their inverted HGS asymmetry ratio: (1) 0.0-10.0%, (2) 10.1-20.0%, (3) 20.1-30.0%, and (4) > 30.0%. Generalized estimating equations were used for the analyses.
Results:
Every 0.10 increase in HGS asymmetry ratio was associated with 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.48) greater odds for future falls. Relative to those with HGS asymmetry 0.0-10.0%, participants with HGS asymmetry > 30.0% had 1.15 (CI 1.01-1.33) greater odds for future falls; however, the associations were not significant for those with HGS asymmetry 10.1-20.0% (odds ratio: 1.06; CI 0.98-1.14) and 20.1-30.0% (odds ratio: 1.10; CI 0.99-1.22). Compared to those with HGS asymmetry 0.0-10.0%, participants with HGS asymmetry > 10.0% and > 20.0% had 1.07 (CI 1.01-1.16) and 1.12 (CI 1.02-1.22) greater odds for future falls, respectively.
Discussion:
Asymmetric HGS, as a possible biomarker of impaired neuromuscular function, may help predict falls.
Conclusions:
We recommend that HGS asymmetry be considered in HGS protocols and fall risk assessments.
