Hand grip strength in the elderly with upper limbs pain

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hand grip strength is extremely important to perform daily life activities, such as holding objects, using a handrail or bus supports, carry out domestic tasks, self-care activities, that is, to maintain functionality and independence. This study aimed at evaluating hand grip strength of elderly people with pain in upper limbs. METHODS: The sample was made up of 119 elderly who were divided by gender, being 19 males and 100 females. General mean age was 67.93 years, mean age of males was 67.58 years and mean age of females was 68 years. The elderly were submitted to evaluation with Kratos® dynamometer. RESULTS: All studied individuals are right-handed and there is a higher prevalence of females. When hand grip strength was compared among genders with no pain, there has been stronger right hand strength and when it was compared between genders with pain, this has influenced the strength of both hands, being muscle strength stronger in males. CONCLUSION: After analyzing sample results, it was observed that pain has influenced hand grip strength being that male elderly people had stronger muscle strength as compared to females.