Grip Strength and Sports Performance in Competitive Master Weightlifters

Marianne Huebner (), Bryan Riemann and Andrew Hatchett
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Marianne Huebner: Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
Bryan Riemann: Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, Armstrong Campus-Georgia Southern University, Savannah, GA 31419, USA
Andrew Hatchett: Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Aiken-University of South Carolina, Aiken, SC 29801, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: Grip strength (GS) is correlated with major muscle group strength; weakness and asymmetry in older adults are predictive of future disease and functional limitation risk. GS at different ages and hand symmetry for Olympic-style weightlifters and their association with performance have not been established. GS was measured in 164 athletes participating in the 2022 World Master Weightlifting Championships. The objectives wereto study the magnitude of the age-associated decline in GS in weightlifters and the association of GS with weightlifting performance. Hand symmetry was considered as a potential factor in successful lifts. Ages ranged from 35 to 90 (mean 53 years). Participants reported weekly training averages of 8.3 h of weightlifting and 4.1 additional hours of physical activities. The age-associated decline in GS was less steep than the decline in weightlifting performance. GS was lower in weightlifters compared to athletes in other sports that require grasping or force application (t = −2.53, p =0.053 for females; t = −2.62, p = 0.029 for males). The rate of decline was similar across different populations (weightlifters, other athletes, community-dwelling adults). Height and age were associated with GS, but performance level and training hours were not. GS was associated with snatch performance (t = 3.56, p < 0.001) but not with clean and jerk (t = 0.48, p = 0.633).

Keywords: aging; athletes; snatch; clean and jerk; muscle strength; hand symmetry; World Master Championships (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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