Abstract

Author(s): García López, Marta1; González Montero de Espinosa, Marisa1; Romero-Collazos, Juan Francisco1,2; Prado Martínez, Consuelo3; López-Ejeda, Noemí 1,4; Villarino Marín, Antonio1,5; Marrodán Serrano, María Dolores1,4,5

Background and objectives: Hand grip dynamometry is a functional test recommended in the nutritional assessment. Usually it is expressed in terms of age but during growth even at the same age, body size varies. The aim of this study is to provide references of hand strength depending on the height.

Subjects and method: The sample consists of 1,798 students between 6 and 15 years. Height, weight and strength of both hands were measured. The mean dynamometry (MD) was expressed in terms of height and predictive equations were obtained. Descriptive statistics, comparative and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 21.0

Results: Percentile references for MD are provided by height categories in ranges of 5 cm. The obtained formulas from the regression model (males : MD=0.207*weight+0.621*height71,461; females: MD=0.258*weight+0.394*height-43.967) were validated in half of the sample.

Conclusions: The predictive equations given in this paper allow estimating MD from weight and height independently of age.