Grip strength, pinch strength and quadriceps strength in Thai elderly.

ABSTRACT

A study of grip strength, pinch strength and quadriceps strength in elderly Thai people at the Geriatric Clinic, Siriraj Hospital, was carried out. One hundred and sixty two elderlies, 63 males and 99 females with a mean age xฑSD of 70ฑ6 years, were evaluated by using a hand dynamometer, pinch gauge and leg dynamometer. The grip and pinch strengths of the dominant hand differed from the non-dominant hand with a p value < 0.001. The quadriceps strength decreased significantly as the patient became older (p<0.05). Male patients had higher values of grip strength, pinch strength and quadriceps strength than females. The muscle strengths were not affected by the type and frequency of exercise. The grip strength, pinch strength and quadriceps strength decreased rapidly after the age of seventy and the decline was prone to be more rapid in males than in females. The normal values of the muscle strengths would be beneficial for early detection of neuromuscular diseases in the elderly.