title: Association Between Maximal Bench Press Strength and Isometric Handgrip Strength Among Breast Cancer Survivors.
abstract: To characterize the relationship between 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) bench press strength and isometric handgrip strength among breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Laboratory.
  
  
  
  Community-dwelling breast cancer survivors (N=295).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  1-RM bench press strength was measured with a barbell and exercise bench. Isometric handgrip strength was measured using an isometric dynamometer, with 3 maximal contractions of the left and right hands. All measures were conducted by staff with training in clinical exercise testing.
  
  
  
  Among 295 breast cancer survivors, 1-RM bench press strength was 18.2±6.1kg (range, 2.2-43.0kg), and isometric handgrip strength was 23.5±5.8kg (range, 9.0-43.0kg). The strongest correlate of 1-RM bench press strength was the average isometric handgrip strength of both hands (r=.399; P<.0001). Mean difference analysis suggested that the average isometric handgrip strength of both hands overestimated 1-RM bench press strength by 4.7kg (95% limits of agreement, -8.2 to 17.6kg). In a multivariable linear regression model, the average isometric handgrip strength of both hands (β=.31; P<.0001) and age (β=-.20; P<.0001) were positively correlated with 1-RM bench press strength (R2=.23).
  
  
  
  Isometric handgrip strength is a poor surrogate for 1-RM bench press strength among breast cancer survivors. 1-RM bench press strength and isometric handgrip strength quantify distinct components of muscular strength.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gater
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: schmitz@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000072656:Breast Cancer Lymphedema / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Breast neoplasms; Exercise; Lymphedema; Muscle strength; Rehabilitation