Average grip strength: a meta-analysis of data obtained with a Jamar dynamometer from individuals 75 years or more of age.
OBJECTIVE
Although strength diminishes with age, average values for grip strength have not been available heretofore for discrete strata after 75 years. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide average values for the left and right hands of men and women 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, and 90-99 years.


METHODS
Contributing to the analysis were 7 studies and 739 subjects with whom the Jamar dynamometer and standard procedures were employed.


RESULTS
Based on the analysis, average values for the left and right hands of men and women in each age stratum were derived.


CONCLUSIONS
The derived values can serve as a standard of comparison for individual patients. An individual whose grip strength is below the lower limit of the confidence intervals of each stratum can be confidently considered to have less than average grip strength.
Department of Physical Therapy, NAEG School of Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2101, USA. richard.bohannon@uconn.edu
Richard W
RW
Bohannon
Jane
J
Bear-Lehman
Johanne
J
Desrosiers
Nicola
N
Massy-Westropp
Virgil
V
Mathiowetz
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D012016:Reference Values