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Background: Maximal voluntary isometric handgrip strength (MVIHS) is influenced by age, sex, and handedness. Aim: To assess the association of MVIHS with age, sex, and handedness in older adults. Material and Methods: MVIHS was measured using a digital dynamometer in 60 men and 60 women aged 73 ± 6 years. Weight, height and handedness were also recorded. For analysis purposes, participants were divided into two age groups (65 to 70.9 years of age and ≥ 71 years). Results: A negative correlation was observed between age and MVIHS in the non-dominant (r = −0.65 and −0.59 in men and women, respectively) and dominant hands (r = −0.71 and −0.64 in men and women, respectively). When age and MVIHS were correlated in the group aged 65-70 years, a significant correlation was observed in the non-dominant (r = −045 and −0.61 in men and women, respectively) and dominant hands (r = −0.47 and −0.64 in men and women, respectively). In the group aged ≥ 71 years, a stronger correlation with age was also observed in the non-dominant (r = −0.92 and −0.90 in men and women, respectively) and dominant hands (r = −0.95 and −0.90 in men and women, respectively). MVIHS was 2.8 to 8.9% lower in the non-dominant than in the dominant hand in all age groups. MVIHS was lower in women than in men in both age groups. Conclusions: MVIHS declines with age (especially after 71 years of age), is higher in men than women, and higher in the dominant than the non-dominant hand.

There is no conclusive evidence about the association between physical fitness (PF) and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults.To seek for an association between PF and HRQOL in non-disabled community-dwelling Chilean older adults.One hundred and sixteen subjects participated in the study. PF was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and hand grip strength (HGS). HRQOL was assessed using eight dimensions provided by the SF-12v2 questionnaire. Binary multivariate logistic regression models were carried out considering the potential influence of confounder variables.Non-adjusted models, indicated that subjects with better performance in arm curl test (ACT) were more likely to score higher on vitality dimension (OR1) and those with higher HGS were more likely to score higher on physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health (OR1). The adjusted models consistently showed that ACT and HGS predicted a favorable perception of vitality and mental health dimensions respectively (OR1).HGS and ACT have a predictive value for certain dimensions of HRQOL.

Hand grip strength could be influenced by gender, age and handedness.To describe differences in grip strength for age, gender and upper extremity handedness in non-disabled community-dwelling older adults.We studied 47 males aged 72.3 ± 5.6 years and 69 females 72.4 ± 6.0 years who were divided in two age groups (65-70 and ≥ 71 years old). Grip strength was determined by a standardized protocol using a hand dynamometer.There was an inverse correlation between grip strength and age in both hands only among men (p ≤ 0.05). When analyzing both genders, there was a significant inverse correlation between grip strength and age only in the dominant hand (p ≤ 0.05). Strength was higher in the dominant hand in both genders (p ≤ 0.05). It was also higher in men, compared to women in the two age groups studied (p ≤ 0.05).Grip strength is higher in men than women, it decreases with age and is higher in the dominant hand.