title: Reference values for hand grip strength in Japanese community-dwelling elderly: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reference values for hand grip strength in Japanese community-dwelling elderly independent in activities of daily living (ADLs) were calculated by meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers reporting data on hand grip strength in elderly Japanese adults ≥60 years of age and independent in ADLs were retrieved from electronic databases. Data were extracted from the selected papers and the weighted mean for hand grip strength by sex was calculated by random effect model. The association of hand grip strength with age and body weight was also analyzed using meta-regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data for 15,784 individuals (5216 men and 10,568 women; mean age 67.0-79.8 years) were extracted from 97 sets of data from 33 papers. The weighted mean for hand grip strength was calculated as 33.11 kg [95 % CI 32.27-33.96] in men and 20.92 kg [95 % CI 20.45-21.39] in women. A significant negative correlation was also seen between hand grip strength and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean hand grip strength of elderly people calculated in this study can be used as a reference value for the hand grip strength of Japanese community-dwelling elderly who are independent in ADLs. However, age needs to be considered in reference values for hand grip strength.
authors.affiliation: School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan. naokami@kitasato-u.ac.jp.|Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, 252-0373, Japan. naokami@kitasato-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamide
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Seirei Hamamatsu City Rehabilitation Hospital, Hamamatsu, 433-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University East Hospital, Sagamihara, 252-0328, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazono
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Ushioda General Hospital, Yokohama, 230-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: Elderly; Hand grip strength; Japanese; Meta-analysis; Reference values