Sex Differences in Age-Associated Rate of Decline in Grip Strength When Engaging in Vigorous Physical Activity

Marianne Huebner (), Frank Lawrence and Lara Lusa
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Marianne Huebner: Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Frank Lawrence: Center for Statistical Training and Consulting, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Lara Lusa: Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Primorska, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: Handgrip strength (GS) is used as an indicator of overall muscle strength and health outcomes for aging adults. GS has also been evaluated as a potential link with sport performances. We quantified the age-associated decline in grip strength for males and females engaged in weekly vigorous physical activity, differentiated by body mass, and investigated whether there was an acceleration of decline at any age. The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe is a multinational complex panel data survey with a target population of individuals aged 50 years or older. Data from 48,070 individuals from 20 European countries, collected from 2004 to 2015, were used in multivariable regression models to study the association of age and body weight with grip strength for individuals engaged in vigorous physical activity at least once a week. The annual rate of change in GS differed for males and females; it was constant from ages 50 to 55 years and then accelerated for females, possibly due to the menopausal transition. In contrast, the decline in GS accelerates with each year of increase in age for males. Higher body mass was associated with an increase in GS, but the increase was less pronounced for older males. The increase in GS diminished with a body mass above the median even with engagement in weekly vigorous physical activities. GS reference values for individuals engaged in vigorous physical activity add to existing reference values for general populations.

Keywords: sport; exercise; aging; accelerated decline; body mass; menopause (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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