Citation

Bohannon RW. Clin. Interv. Aging 2019; 14: 1681-1691.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Dove Press)

DOI

10.2147/CIA.S194543

PMID

31631989

PMCID

PMC6778477

Abstract

Grip strength has been proposed as a biomarker. Supporting this proposition, evidence is provided herein that shows grip strength is largely consistent as an explanator of concurrent overall strength, upper limb function, bone mineral density, fractures, falls, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, depression, sleep problems, diabetes, multimorbidity, and quality of life. Evidence is also provided for a predictive link between grip strength and all-cause and disease-specific mortality, future function, bone mineral density, fractures, cognition and depression, and problems associated with hospitalization. Consequently, the routine use of grip strength can be recommended as a stand-alone measurement or as a component of a small battery of measurements for identifying older adults at risk of poor health status.

© 2019 Bohannon.

Language: en

Keywords

aging; biomarker; epidemiology; health outcomes; mortality; muscle strength; rehabilitation