Clinical Interventions in Aging (Oct 2019)
Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults
Abstract
Richard W Bohannon Department of Physical Therapy, Campbell University, Lillington, NC, USACorrespondence: Richard W BohannonDepartment of Physical Therapy, Campbell University, 4150 US 421 South, Lillington, NC 27546, USATel +1 910-814-4098Fax +1 910 814-4951Email [email protected]: 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.Keywords: biomarker, muscle strength, health outcomes, epidemiology, mortality, rehabilitation, aging
