Correlation of changes in hand function and hand grip strength in geriatric population

Author: 
Neha Anand Pawar, Abhishek Panchal and Shamla Pazare

Distal muscles are affected more than proximal muscles as per the reports. As the person ages, changes in muscular, nervous and cardiovascular system occur. Muscle mass is correlated with muscle strength due to which along with aging decrease in muscle strength and muscle mass occurs. The decreasing muscle mass is directly correlated to the diminished muscle strength of aging hand and so assessment of hand function is important. Effective measures can be taken after 50 years of age in the general population so that strength and changes in hand functions that hamper the activities required for independent functioning can be prevented. Changes in hand functions occur due to aging, but it is still unclear whether these effects of physiological aging can cause disability. Hand grip strength is found to reduce with aging. This study attempted to find if correlation exists between hand grip strength and hand function in elderly.
Result: There was a positive correlation between all the domains and its total score of Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire with the handgrip strength in young geriatric population.
Conclusion: all the domains of MHQ, overall hand function, activities of daily living, work performance and aesthetics domain had moderate positive correlation with handgrip strength while pain domain had severe positive correlation.

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DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2022.428.0094
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