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Published on: February 12, 2018
Paediatric dominant and non-dominant handgrip reference curves and the association with body composition
Catherine M Avitabile1,2, David R Weber1,3, Babette S Zemel1,4
1Deptartment of Paediatrics, University of PA Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Insights
New reference curves for paediatric handgrip strength are now available, aiding fitness assessments. Handgrip strength correlates with body composition, offering insights into functional health in children and adolescents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Human Physiology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Limited pediatric reference data hinders the use of handgrip strength for assessing fitness and well-being.
- Establishing normative data is crucial for accurate interpretation of handgrip strength in youth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop reference curves for pediatric handgrip strength.
- To examine associations between handgrip strength, body size, body composition, and race/ethnicity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014) for participants aged 6-20 years.
- Generated reference curves using the LMS method for dominant and non-dominant handgrip strength.
- Calculated fat mass index Z-scores (FMIZ) and appendicular lean soft tissue mass index Z-scores (ALSTMIZ) for participants over 8 years old.
Main Results:
- Handgrip strength differences by hand dominance increased with age.
- Significant associations were found between handgrip strength and height, arm length Z-scores, and ALSTMIZ.
- Observed variations in handgrip strength across racial/ethnic groups, which were reduced after adjusting for body size and composition.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric handgrip reference curves have been successfully generated, allowing for individual Z-score calculations adjusted for body size.
- The association with ALSTMIZ suggests that handgrip strength Z-scores may serve as a valuable indicator of functional body composition in pediatric populations.
Background:
Lack of paediatric reference data limits the utility of handgrip strength as a measure of fitness and well-being.
Aim:
To develop paediatric handgrip reference curves and evaluate associations with body size and composition and race/ethnicity group.
Subjects And Methods:
Handgrip, body size and composition data were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 participants aged 6-20 years. Densitometry-derived fat and appendicular lean soft tissue mass index Z-scores (FMIZ, ALSTMIZ) were generated in participants >8 years. Dominant and non-dominant handgrip reference curves were created using the LMS method. Analyses included sample weights to produce nationally representative estimates.
Results:
Differences in handgrip strength according to hand dominance increased with age. Handgrip strength was associated with height and arm length Z-scores (R = 0.42 to 0.47) and ALSTMIZ (R = 0.54). Handgrip strength was higher in the non-Hispanic Black group and lower in the Mexican American compared to non-Hispanic White group. Group differences were attenuated when adjusted for height, arm length or ALSTMIZ.
Conclusion:
Paediatric handgrip reference curves were generated from which individual Z-scores can be calculated separately for dominant versus non-dominant hand and adjusted for body size. Association with ALSTMIZ suggests handgrip Z-score may be used as a measure of functional body composition.
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