HANDGRIP STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: DISTRIBUTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/s32vvz33Keywords:
Aged, handgrip strength, muscle strength, public health, Functional StatusAbstract
Objective: To characterize handgrip strength (HGS) and its associated factors in elderly people living in communities in Northeast Brazil. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study, developed with 85 elderly people, which used hand dynamometry (Jamar®) as a marker of functionality, adopting cut-off points stratified by the medians of each sex (31 kgf for men and 20.5 kgf for women). Results: The results revealed that, although HGS was preserved in most of the studied population (64.7%), a significant percentage of 35.3% presented reduced strength. The decline in strength was significantly associated with sociodemographic determinants: female sex (p < 0.01), single marital status (p = 0.048) and low family income (p = 0.03). It was observed that reduced strength was prevalent among women (83.3%) and individuals with income up to R$ 1,518.00 (70%), while men and married elderly people concentrated the highest rates of preserved strength. Clinical and lifestyle variables, such as polypharmacy, comorbidities, and level of physical activity, did not show a statistically significant association, although normal nutritional status showed a tendency towards preserved strength. Conclusion: It is concluded that PPF (Peripheral Potential Strength) can be influenced by social and biological factors, with a significant concentration of socioeconomic variables as factors that impact functional reserve. These findings reinforce the importance of PPF as an early screening tool in primary care to support actions aimed at delaying functional decline and promoting independence in aging.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Allisson Deyvson de Lima Pereira, Bárbara Maria Gomes dos Santos, Erika Valesca Alves da Costa, Dominique Hellen Silva da Costa, Nívea Regina Silva de Lima, Rafael Da Silveira Moreira, Shélida Carolaine De Macedo Araújo, Vanessa de Lima Silva
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