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Updated: Sep 15, 2025

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
Published on: December 14, 2011
Physical Strength Is Not Associated With Facial Sexual Dimorphism and Asymmetry in Either Czechs or Cameroonians
1Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Objectives:
Handgrip strength is a widely used indicator of muscle strength and general health, but its association with facial morphology remains unclear. This study examined whether handgrip strength or its asymmetry is related to facial sexual shape dimorphism, perceived masculinity/femininity, and facial asymmetry in two culturally and genetically distinct populations: Cameroonian and Czech adults.
Methods:
Geometric morphometric methods were applied to full-face portraits of 226 individuals (balanced by sex, aged 19-59), using 72 facial landmarks and semi-landmarks. Pearson correlations and a series of ANOVA analyses were then used to assess possible associations between facial traits and both absolute and asymmetric grip strength.
Results:
Across all models and subgroups, associations between handgrip strength and facial morphology were weak and nonsignificant. None of the facial characteristics reliably predicted either handgrip strength or its asymmetry in either men or women.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that facial morphology on its own does not reliably reflect muscular strength. Further research should incorporate longitudinal and cross-cultural designs.
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