Handgrip Strength Asymmetry Is Associated With Limitations in Individual Basic Self-Care Tasks

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Kinesiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Handgrip strength (HGS) is a key indicator of overall health and functional capacity.
• Asymmetries in HGS may reflect underlying neuromuscular or health-related issues.
• Understanding HGS asymmetry's impact on activities of daily living (ADL) is crucial for aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetries and limitations in specific activities of daily living (ADL).
• To determine if dominant or non-dominant hand HGS asymmetry predicts different ADL limitations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 18,468 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2016).
• HGS asymmetry defined as >10% difference in strength between hands.
• Self-reported ADL limitations including toileting, transferring, and bathing.

Main Results:

• Any HGS asymmetry was associated with increased odds of toileting (OR=1.21) and transferring limitations (OR=1.25).
• Non-dominant HGS asymmetry showed higher odds for bathing (OR=1.39) and toileting limitations (OR=1.44).
• Dominant HGS asymmetry was linked to greater odds of transferring limitations (OR=1.24).

Conclusions:

• HGS asymmetries are significant predictors of limitations in specific activities of daily living.
• Identifying HGS asymmetries can aid in early detection of individuals at risk for functional decline.
• Targeted interventions addressing HGS asymmetry may help maintain independence in older adults.