Hand grip strength is strongly associated with lower limb strength but only weakly with postural control in community-dwelling older adults

Background: Hand grip strength is frequently used as a measurement of muscle strength, especially among older adults. Muscle strength is only one of the many components in postural control and it is currently unclear to what extent hand grip strength is associated with postural control. The aim was to analyze the association between hand grip strength and lower limb muscle strength, and postural control among older adults. Methods: Forty-five community-dwelling individuals over 70 years of age provided isometric hand grip strength and lower limb strength (including hip extension and abduction, knee flexion and extension, and ankle dorsi-flexion and plantarflexion), as well as postural control measurements. In the latter, center of pressure excursions were recorded for quiet stance and limits of stability tests on a force plate. Orthogonal projection of latent structures regression models were used to analyze associations between hand grip strength and lower limb strength as well as postural control, respectively. Results: Lower limb strength explained 74.4% of the variance in hand grip strength. All lower limb muscle groups were significantly associated with hand grip strength. In a corresponding model, postural control measured with center of pressure excursions explained 20.7% of the variance in a statistically significant, albeit weak, model. Conclusions: These results support that hand grip strength is a valid method to estimate lower limb strength among older adults on a group level. However, strength measurements seem insufficient as a substitute for measuring postural control, and therefore specific balance tests are necessary.

Automated summary

The study found a significant association between lower limb muscle groups and hand grip strength, suggesting hand grip strength is a valid method to estimate lower limb strength among older adults. However, strength measurements alone are not enough to substitute for measuring postural control, and specific balance tests are still necessary.