Grip Strength

Why It Matters

Grip strength is a simple measure of muscle function that correlates with overall physical capability. It is often used as a proxy for frailty and functional reserve, with large studies and reviews positioning it as a practical biomarker of ageing and survival. [1] [2] [3]

How It Is Measured

Measurements are typically taken with a hand dynamometer, with results adjusted for age, sex, and body size and interpreted against standardized cutpoints. Repeated testing improves reliability and reduces protocol-related variability. [4] [5] [6]

Links to Health Outcomes

Lower grip strength is associated with higher risk of disability, falls, and mortality in older adults. It reflects both muscle mass and neuromuscular coordination, and it is linked to frailty, multimorbidity, and adverse clinical outcomes across cohorts. [1] [7] [8]

Limitations

Grip strength is influenced by injury, arthritis, and motivation during testing. It also reflects upper body strength more than total-body function, so it should be interpreted alongside other functional measures and clinical context. [4] [1]

Summary

Grip strength is a practical functional biomarker that captures aspects of ageing-related decline, but it should be interpreted alongside other measures. [1] [2]

References

1. Bohannon, R. W. (2019). Grip strength: an indispensable biomarker for older adults. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 14, 1681-1691. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
2. Sayer, A. A., & Kirkwood, T. B. L. (2015). Grip strength and mortality: a biomarker of ageing? The Lancet, 386(9990), 226-227. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
3. Frontiers in Medicine. (2025). Handgrip strength as a potential indicator of aging: insights from its association with aging-related laboratory biomarkers. Frontiers in Medicine, 10, 1491584. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1491584/full
4. Roberts, H. C., Denison, H. J., Martin, H. J., et al. (2011). A review of the measurement of grip strength in clinical and epidemiological studies: towards a standardized approach. Age and Ageing, 40(4), 423-429. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
5. Alley, D. E., Shardell, M. D., Peters, K. W., et al. (2014). Grip strength cutpoints for the identification of clinically relevant weakness. Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences, 69(5), 559-566. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
6. Bohannon, R. W. (2017). Test-retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry for grip strength: a systematic review. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 25(1), 1-9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
7. Rantanen, T., Volpato, S., Ferrucci, L., et al. (2003). Handgrip strength and cause-specific and total mortality in older disabled women: exploring the mechanism. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51(5), 636-641. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/
8. Cheung, C.-L., Nguyen, U.-S. D. T., Au, E., Tan, K. C., & Kung, A. W. C. (2013). Association of handgrip strength with chronic diseases and multimorbidity. Age (Dordr), 35(3), 929-941. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6778477/