A Study on Handgrip Strength and some Anthropometric Variables in Younger and Older Female Laborers of Jalandhar, Punjab, India
S Koley, N Kaur
Keywords
female labourers, handgrip strength, india, nutritional status
Citation
S Koley, N Kaur. A Study on Handgrip Strength and some Anthropometric Variables in Younger and Older Female Laborers of Jalandhar, Punjab, India. The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology. 2008 Volume 3 Number 2.
Abstract
Handgrip strength is of great use as a functional index of nutritional status. Few studies confirmed that those in lower BMI category had lower mean handgrip strength too. In the present study, a total of 100 female labourers and 100 sedentary women were participated and the samples were collected purposively. The subjects were further divided into younger (18-25 years) and older (26-40 years) age groups. Age range of the subject was between 18 to 40 years. Selected anthropometric measurements were taken and nutritional indices were calculated using standard equations. Handgrip strength was measured using a digital handgrip dynamometer.When intra-group comparisons were made in younger and older female laborers, no significant differences (p≥0.05) were found for handgrip strength and the determinants of nutritional status, but in controls, intra-group comparisons showed significant differences (p≤0.05) in eight sets out of twelve (except right and left hand grip strength and arm fat index). When comparisons were made between younger and older female laborers and controls, statistically significant differences (p≤0.05) in all the parameters, especially the determinants of nutritional status were found. So it may be concluded that the nutritional status determined the handgrip strength of the female laborers.
Introduction
Handgrip strength is a measure of strength of several muscles in the hand and the forearm 1 . It is measured in either kilograms or Newtons by squeezing a handgrip strength dynamometer with one's maximum strength 2 . The power of grip is the result of forceful flexion of all finger joints with a maximal voluntary force that the subject is able to exert under normal biokinetic conditions 34 . The estimation of hand grip strength is of immense importance in determining the efficacy of different treatment strategies of hand and also in hand rehabilitation. The hand muscles play a vital role in the performance of day to day activities of normal life such as using tools or transferring from one position to another, such as rising from a chair 5 . The relationship between handgrip strength and a number of variables included morbidity 6 , mortality 7 , the risk of falling 8 , a range of functional ability variables 910 and nutritional status 11 have been reported. It is of great use as a functional index of nutritional status 121314 . The hand grip strength is positively associated with nutritional status, even after controlling for potential confounders including health status and socioeconomic conditions 1516 which confirmed that those in lower BMI category had lower mean handgrip strength. Poor nutritional status, defined by low BMI and low arm muscle area, emerged as a significant determinant of impaired handgrip strength 17 . This study therefore was initiated to test the hypothesis that poor nutritional status is associated with poor functional ability (as measured by handgrip strength) as a first step towards understanding the role of nutrition in the livelihoods of female laborers irrespective to their age group differences.
Materials and Methods
The present study is based on purposely selected 100 women (mean age 28.57 ± 7.67) those who are working as labourers in different constructional sites in and around of Jalandhar city, Punjab, India. Also 100 sedentary women (mean age 29.85 ± 8.56) of same place were considered as controls. The subjects were further divided into younger (18-25 years) and older (26-40 years) adults. Age range was between 18 to 40 years. The data collection was undertaken under natural environmental conditions, in residential areas and construction sites situated in and around Jalandhar city, Punjab, India. The study was approved by the local ethics committee.
Anthropometry
All anthropometric measurements, viz. height, weight, BMI, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference, arm muscle girth, arm muscle area, arm area, arm fat area and arm fat index were measured on each subjects by NK using standard methodologies 1518 . All variables except height and weight were measured on the right side of the body in triplicate with the median value used as the criterion.
The height was recorded during inspiration using a stadiometer (Holtain Ltd., crymych, Dyfed, UK) to the nearest 0.1 cm, and weight was measured by digital standing scales (Model DS-410, Seiko, Tokyo, Japan) to the nearest 0.1 kg. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds (to the nearest of o.1 mm) were measured by Harpenden skinfold calipers (British indicators Ltd., West Sussex, UK). BMI was then calculated using the formula weight (kg)/height 2 (m) 2 . Arm muscle girth, Arm-muscle area, arm area, arm fat area and arm fat index were calculated using standard methodologies 19 as: arm muscle girth (cm) = G arm – (Π Skin fold triceps), arm muscle area, cm 2 = [G arm - ( Π Sf tri)] / 4 Π, arm area (A), cm 2 = (G arm) 2 / 4 Π, arm fat area, cm 2 = arm area – arm muscle area, arm fat index, % fat area = (arm fat area / arm area).
The grip strength of both right and left hands was measured using a standard adjustable digital handgrip dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co., LTD, Japan) at standing position with shoulder adducted and neutrally rotated and elbow in full extension. The subjects were asked to put maximum force on the dynamometer thrice from both sides of the hands. The maximum value was recorded in kilograms. All anthropometric equipments and hand grip dynamometer were calibrated before the assessment to check internal validity.
Data analysis
Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation) were determined for all directly measured and derived variables. Comparisons between female laborers and controls for all the measured variables were made using an independent t-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 7.5. A 5% level of probability was used to indicate statistical significance.
Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows the descriptive statistics of handgrip strength and some anthropometric variables in younger (18 – 25 years) and older (26 – 40 years) female laborers. The older female labourers were slightly shorter in height (0.45%), heavier in weight (4.09%), with more BMI (5.05%), arm circumference (3.97%), arm muscle girth (4.49%), arm muscle area (10.24%), arm area (8.71%), arm fat area (7.41%) and with less triceps skin fold (0.18%), arm fat index (2.64%), right and left handgrip strength (4.32% and 4.33% respectively) than the younger female labourers.
Figure 1
The descriptive statistics of handgrip strength and some anthropometric variables in younger (18 – 25 years) and older (26 – 40 years) sedentary females is shown in Table 2. The older sedentary females were shorter in height (1.58%), heavier in weight (18.66%), with more BMI (22.54%), triceps skin fold (0.82%), arm circumference (16.44%), arm muscle girth (16.84%), arm muscle area (36.00%), arm area (35.13%), arm fat area (33.90%) and less arm fat index (0.92%), right and left handgrip strength (4.87% and 3.96% respectively) then the younger sedentary females.
Figure 2
Figure 3
Table 3 shows the descriptive statistics of handgrip strength and some anthropometric variables in younger (18 – 25 years) female laborers and sedentary females. The younger female laborers were shorter in height (3.86%), lighter in weight (24.23%), with less BMI (14.98%), triceps skin fold (3.00%), arm circumference (13.76%), arm muscle girth (10.31%), arm muscle area (23.21%), arm area (30.69%), arm fat area (43.02%), arm fat index (10.21%), right and left handgrip strength (11.66% and 10.12% respectively) than the younger sedentary females.
The descriptive statistics of handgrip strength and some anthropometric variables in older (26 - 40 years) female labourers and sedentary females is shown in Table 4. The older female labourers were shorter in height (2.71%), lighter in weight (41.62%), with less BMI (34.13%), triceps skin fold (3.97%), arm circumference (27.44%), arm muscle girth (23.40%), arm muscle area (52.00%), arm area (62.45%), arm fat area (78.30%), arm fat index (12.09%), right and left handgrip strength (11.07% and 10.56% respectively) than the older sedentary females.
Handgrip strength has long been thought of as a possible predictor of overall body strength. But little information was available regarding this. Smith et al. 20 found a direct correlation in grip strength and overall body strength in elderly female populations. It is also reported that handgrip strength determines the muscular strength of an individual 21 . The present study indicates that both younger and older female laborers have lower mean values in all variables measured including lower mean values of grip strength of both hands as compared to sedentary females. In fact, Chilima and Ismail 16 reported that hand grip strength was positively associated with nutritional status, even after controlling for potential confounders including health status and socioeconomic conditions. Their study also confirmed that those in lower BMI category had lower mean handgrip strength. Therefore, the poor nutritional status is associated with poor functional status as assessed by handgrip strength. Pieterse et al. 17 also reported that poor nutritional status, defined by low BMI and low arm muscle area, emerged as a significant determinant of impaired handgrip strength. In the present study too, both younger and older female laborers have lesser mean values for BMI than controls. From the results of the present study, it may be stated that both younger and older female laborers have lower mean values in all variables used as nutritional indicators and also they have lower values of handgrip strength as compared to sedentary females, lend support to the findings that handgrip strength is positively associated with nutritional status as reported in Japan 11 , in central Malawi 16 and in Rwanda (north Tanzania) 17 . In fact, women working in different constructional sites have poor nutritional status due to their lower socioeconomic conditions.
Figure 4
Conclusion
Thus the results of this study support the hypothesis that the poor nutritional status is associated with poor handgrip strength in female laborers. Further studies in this line are required to determine whether improved nutritional status can strengthen the handgrip of an individual.
