title: Normative data for hand grip strength and key pinch strength, stratified by age and gender for a multiethnic Asian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hand strength is a good indicator of physical fitness and frailty among the elderly. However, there are no published hand strength references for Malaysians aged > 65 years. This study aimed to establish normative data for hand grip strength (HGS) and key pinch strength (KPS) for Malaysians aged ≥ 60 years, and explore the relationship between hand strength and physical ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy participants aged ≥ 60 years with no neurological conditions were recruited from rural and urban locations in Malaysia. HGS and KPS were measured using hand grip and key pinch dynamometers. Basic demographic data, anthropometric measures, modified Barthel Index scores and results of the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  362 subjects aged 60-93 years were recruited. The men were significantly stronger than the women in both HGS and KPS (p < 0.001). The hand strength of the study cohort was lower than that of elderly Western populations. Significant correlations were observed between hand strength, and residential area (p < 0.001), FRT (r = 0.236, p = 0.028), TUG (r = -0.227, p = 0.009) and JTHFT (r = -0.927, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study established reference ranges for the HGS and KPS of rural and urban elderly Malaysian subpopulations. These will aid the use of hand strength as a screening tool for frailty among elderly persons in Malaysia. Future studies are required to determine the modifiable factors for poor hand strength.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ngee Wei
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Hui Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.|Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shahrul Bahyah
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kamaruzzaman
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.|Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ai-Vyrn
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.|Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Philip Jun Hua
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Poi
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.|Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maw Pin
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052581:Pinch Strength; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: aged; frailty; functional impairment; hand strength