Rationale: Handgrip strength normalised to the muscle-to-bone ratio (MtB) may provide a sensitive index of muscle quality, defined as strength relative to muscle mass. This study examined Relative Handgrip Strength (RHS) by Sex, Age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Percent Body Fat (¿). Methods: This cross-sectional study used NHANES 2011-2014 data (n=8912; 4622 males, 4290 females; mean age=28.3±15.6 years, range: 8-59 years) with complete DXA scans and handgrip measurements. MtB was calculated as Lean Mass/Bone Mineral Content for arms (left-right mean). RHS was defined as mean bilateral handgrip force (kg) divided by MtB. Participants were classified by BMI and ¿ using age- and sex-specific thresholds. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn’s post hoc were applied. Results: RHS increased with age (8-12 years=0.97±0.32; 13-19 years=1.99±0.52; 20-29 years=2.36±0.59; 30-39 years=2.38±0.58; 40-49 years=2.32±0.56) and declined thereafter (50-59 years=2.17±0.60; p<0.0001). Quadratic regression confirmed an inverted-U trajectory (R2=0.53; p<0.0001), with sex as a covariate. Males showed higher RHS than females (p<0.0001). In youth, overweight and obese stratification had a higher RHS than normal-BMI (p<0.0001). In adults, only obese BMI group showed lower RHS compared to normal and overweight (p<0.0001). Conversely, ¿ revealed an inverse gradient (Normal > Overweight > Obese ¿; all p<0.0001). Conclusion: RHS follows an inverted-U trajectory peaking in the 3rd-4th decade. Obesity was associated with lower RHS from the 5th-6th decade onwards. ¿ stratification revealed finer discrimination than BMI alone. RHS normalised to MtB may be a sensitive index for clinical muscle quality assessment. presenter: Samaneh Eftekhariranjbar
RELATIVE HANDGRIP STRENGTH BASED ON MUSCLE-TO-BONE RATIO: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS FROM NHANES 2011-2014.
Samaneh Eftekhariranjbar;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Rationale: Handgrip strength normalised to the muscle-to-bone ratio (MtB) may provide a sensitive index of muscle quality, defined as strength relative to muscle mass. This study examined Relative Handgrip Strength (RHS) by Sex, Age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Percent Body Fat (¿). Methods: This cross-sectional study used NHANES 2011-2014 data (n=8912; 4622 males, 4290 females; mean age=28.3±15.6 years, range: 8-59 years) with complete DXA scans and handgrip measurements. MtB was calculated as Lean Mass/Bone Mineral Content for arms (left-right mean). RHS was defined as mean bilateral handgrip force (kg) divided by MtB. Participants were classified by BMI and ¿ using age- and sex-specific thresholds. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn’s post hoc were applied. Results: RHS increased with age (8-12 years=0.97±0.32; 13-19 years=1.99±0.52; 20-29 years=2.36±0.59; 30-39 years=2.38±0.58; 40-49 years=2.32±0.56) and declined thereafter (50-59 years=2.17±0.60; p<0.0001). Quadratic regression confirmed an inverted-U trajectory (R2=0.53; p<0.0001), with sex as a covariate. Males showed higher RHS than females (p<0.0001). In youth, overweight and obese stratification had a higher RHS than normal-BMI (p<0.0001). In adults, only obese BMI group showed lower RHS compared to normal and overweight (p<0.0001). Conversely, ¿ revealed an inverse gradient (Normal > Overweight > Obese ¿; all p<0.0001). Conclusion: RHS follows an inverted-U trajectory peaking in the 3rd-4th decade. Obesity was associated with lower RHS from the 5th-6th decade onwards. ¿ stratification revealed finer discrimination than BMI alone. RHS normalised to MtB may be a sensitive index for clinical muscle quality assessment. presenter: Samaneh EftekhariranjbarI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
