Normalizing handgrip strength in older adults: An allometric approach

Geraldo A Maranhao Neto; Aldair J Oliveira; Rodrigo Cunha de Melo Pedreiro; Pedro Paulo Pereira-Junior; Sergio Machado; Silvio Marques Neto; Paulo T V Farinatti

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2017.02.007

Normalizing handgrip strength in older adults: An allometric approach

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2017 May-Jun:70:230-234. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.02.007. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Authors

Geraldo A Maranhao Neto¹, Aldair J Oliveira², Rodrigo Cunha de Melo Pedreiro², Pedro Paulo Pereira-Junior³, Sergio Machado⁴, Silvio Marques Neto³, Paulo T V Farinatti⁵

Affiliations

¹ Physical Activity Sciences Graduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Zip Code: 24030-060, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Social Dimensions Applied to Physical Activity and Sport (LABSAFE), Department of Physical Education and Sport, Rio de Janeiro Rural Federal University, Zip Code: 23.897-000, Seropédica, Brazil. Electronic address: maranhaoneto@gmail.com.
² Physical Activity Sciences Graduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Zip Code: 24030-060, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Social Dimensions Applied to Physical Activity and Sport (LABSAFE), Department of Physical Education and Sport, Rio de Janeiro Rural Federal University, Zip Code: 23.897-000, Seropédica, Brazil.
³ Physical Activity Sciences Graduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Zip Code: 24030-060, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
⁴ Physical Activity Sciences Graduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Zip Code: 24030-060, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Social Dimensions Applied to Physical Activity and Sport (LABSAFE), Department of Physical Education and Sport, Rio de Janeiro Rural Federal University, Zip Code: 23.897-000, Seropédica, Brazil; Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
⁵ Physical Activity Sciences Graduate Program, Salgado de Oliveira University (UNIVERSO), Zip Code: 24030-060, Niterói, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro- RJ, Brazil.

PMID: 28219847
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.02.007

Abstract

Purpose: Handgrip strength is an important variable to assess as part of any health intervention among older adults. Although the use of allometric normalization is the appropriate approach for removing the body size effect in handgrip performance, the best body size variable for this normalization is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the use of three body size variables (body mass, fat-free mass and body height) in allometric normalization for Handgrip strength among older adults.

Methods: Data from individuals admitted to the Elderly Care Center of the Open University of the Third Age were used, the sample consisting of 263 individuals (140 women), aged between 60-87.

Results: The results provided allometric exponents for normalization of HGS in each body size variable (body mass: 0.31; fat-free mass: 0.11; body height: 0.46). The correlations between normalized HGS and body size variables were significant (p<0.05) when HGS were normalized by body mass or fat-free mass. On the contrary, no significant correlations were found when HGS were normalized by body height.

Conclusions: Body height seems to be the best body size variable for performing allometric normalization of HGS among older adults.

Keywords: Allometric models; Elderly; Handgrip dynamometer; Muscle strength; Physical condition.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Body Composition*
Body Height*
Body Mass Index*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hand Strength*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Retrospective Studies