An estimation of grip strength during puberty.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Find the correlation of grip strength in puberty with chronological age, height, weight, and percentage of body fat. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One thousand one hundred and five volunteer students between 11 and 14 years of age in Central Thailand participated in the study. The body weight and height were measured with standard balance and stadiometer The percentage of body fat was measured with Near Infrared interactance device. The grip strength was measured with Digital Handgrip Dynamometer The results were statistically analyzed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: It was found that grip strength has a significant correlation with age, height, and weight but not with percentage of body fat. The prediction of grip strength in puberty can be estimated with the following equations a) For boys, Grip strength (kg) = -59.797 + 2.493 Age (yr) + 0.308 Height (cm) + 0.147 Weight (kg), and b) For girls, Grip strength (kg) = -32.887 + 0.926 Age (yr) + 0.236 Height (cm) + 0.155 Weight (kg). CONCLUSION: The predictive value of an age, height, and weight equation is more precise than that of solely chronological age.