Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (eISSN 2636-9346)

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Correlation of Hand Grip Strength and Body Height Amongst

Young Adults in Indonesia
Peppy Nawangsasi1, Viskasari P. Kalanjati2, Rudi Irawan1, Risdiansyah1, Ni Wajan Tirthaningsih2
1
Magister Program of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Jl. Mayjen. Prof. Dr. Moestopo 47,
Surabaya 60132 Indonesia
2
Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Jl. Mayjen. Prof. Dr. Moestopo 47,
Surabaya 60132 Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Hand grip strength (HGs) is an anthropometric measure of musculoskeletal performance,

which might predict any functional limitation and disability. Increased body height (Ht) is arguably correlated
to the increase in number and length of the muscle fibers may modify the HGs. We determine correlation
between the HGs and the Ht among seemingly healthy Indonesian young adults. Methods: The HGs of both
hands (using CAMRY EH101 digital hand dynamometer) and the Ht (using GEA stature meter for height) of
16 males and 16 females aged 20 to 26 years old were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0
(variables differences between genders were tested using Mann-Whitney U test; correlation between
variables with Pearson or Spearman correlation tests). Level of significant was p< 0,05. Results: The correlation
between Ht and HGs was moderate (r = 0.545, p < 0.05) for dominant hand and (r = 0.597, p < 0.05)
non-dominant hand. There is no significant correlation between dominant HGs with Ht in males (r = -0,292, p 0,273)
and females (r = -0.266, p 0,319), and also happens in non-dominant HGs with Ht in males (r = -0,396, p 0,129)
and females (r = -0,005, p 0,985). Conclusion: HGs had significant correlation with Ht; hence in determining and
assessing results of HGs in the young adults, body height should be considered.

Keywords: Hand grip strength, Young adults, Body height

Corresponding Author: the hard and the soft tissue components in the later are
Viskasari P. Kalanjati, PhD arguably in a lesser size generally (1,4). Studies have
Email: [email protected] reported correlation between the HGs to other factors
Tel: +(031) 5020251 including: the body weight (2), anthropometric traits
i.e. fat percentage (10), nutritional status (3,5), forearm
INTRODUCTION diameter, middle finger length (6) and levels of physical
activity (11). Whilst previous study has been focusing on
Hand grip strength (HGs) is an anthropometric the HGs in correlations to specific clinical conditions,
measurement that is usually used to determine the not many studies have been conducted in the seemingly
functional limitations in the older patients and to healthy young adults as in the current study; not to
determine muscle function in healthy young adults mention its correlation analysis to the body heights. To
(1,2). A simple HGs measurement is harmless and low the best of our knowledge, such study in our region has
cost, this is why HGs is often used to evaluatethe hand yet widely reported whilst these would be useful for
strength and function (3,4). Neuromuscular and skeletal both patients and clinicians. Furthermore we also aimed
systems would be the predominant regions determining to assess the influence of laterality on the hand grip
the HGs (5-7). HGs measurement, however, may also strength subdividing by sex as a proxy to the hand muscle
use as a hand exercise in rheumatoid arthritis of the strength, thus function, between the dominant and the
hands, and as a physical rehabilitation for the recovery non-dominant hands in males and females; which has
after hand’s lesion. Furthermore, this exercise is often yet been largely studied. Any pathology of body growth
used to monitor the post-surgical hand surgery i.e. and development that altering the body height may
trigger finger and others clinical cases (8,9). The HGs adversely affect the HGs in the later life, which might
is often related to anthropometric factors; men have compromise the quality of life, especially related to the
50-70% more strength compared to women at any age, daily chores dependent to the HGs (4,9,12).

Mal J Med Health Sci 17(SUPP2): 9-12, April 2021 9

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences (eISSN 2636-9346)

MATERIALS AND METHODS the standardized method (7). All steps were recorded
and monitored by the medical doctor trained for this
This study was started after obtaining ethical study. Data were tested for normal distribution using
approval by the Health Ethic Committee of the the Shapiro-Wilk test and reported as mean ± standard
Universitas Airlangga, no. 172/HRECC.FODM/III/2020. deviations (SD) and non-normal data were reported as
All participants were recruited after they had agreed medians with interquartile range. A Pearson correlation
and signed the written informed consent and consent test was used to identify the relationship between
for information. A cross-sectional study wasconducted the independent variables (HGs) and the dependent
on the 32 healthy young males and females in variables (Ht). Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0
Surabaya, Indonesia (16 males and 16 females); aged (USA) with level of significant p<0,05.
20-26 years. The exclusion criteria were ambidexterity,
musculoskeletal and neurological deformity or any RESULTS
condition that can interfere the hand when uses a
dynamometer. The HGs was measured using CAMRY The mean age of all participants was 21.06 years old
EH101 digital hand dynamometer designed for auto with a standard deviation of 1.318 years old. The hand
capturing the maximum grip strength and recorded it grip strength (HGs) of males is significantly greater than
in kilograms (China). Each participant was in relax female in both hands; similar pattern was seen for the
sitting position with both feet on the floor, the elbow comparison of males and female body height (Table I).
was in approximately 900 flexion. Participants were
asked to keep the body in a neutral position. They Both side HGs had significant correlations to the body
were instructed to grip the hand dynamometer in each height of all participants (Table II). When analyzed
hand per time, as hard as possible and repeated separately however, no significant differences were
it three times with one-minute rest between trials. found between the HGs and the Hts of the dominant
Body height was measured using GEA stature meter and the non-dominant hands in either males or females
(Indonesia), record to the nearest 0.1 cm, according to (data not presented).

Table I : The handgrip strengths and body height in all participants

Levene test Mann-Whitney
Mean ± SD Shapiro-wilk p value Mean Difference (95%CI)
p value p value
Dominant hand
Male (n=16) 35.40 + 9.68 0,101 0,0001 0.0001a 13.90 (8.61-19.20)
Female (n=16) 21.49 + 3.72 0,643
Total (n=32) 28.44 + 10.09 0,003
Non-dominant hand
Male (n=16) 32.77 + 8.19 0,817 0,0001 0.0001a 14.01 (9.54-18.48)
Female (n=16) 18.76 + 3.06 0,692
Total (n=32) 25.77+ 9.36 0,009
Body Height (Ht)
Male (n=16) 170.50 + 6.48 0,697 0,0001 0,0001a 13.70 (9.62-17.78)
Female (n=16) 156.80 + 4.61 0,922
Total (n=32) 163.65 + 8.89 0,746
Significantly different between males and females.
a

Table II : Correlation analysis of the HGs and the Ht in healthy young adults
Body height
r p
Dominant hand
Male -0,292* 0,273
Female -0,266* 0,319
Total 0.545** 0.001***
Non-dominant hand
Male -0,396* 0,129
Female -0,005* 0.985
Total 0.597** 0.0001***
*Pearson; **Spearman, ***Significantly correlated.

10 Mal J Med Health Sci 17(SUPP2): 9-12, April 2021

DISCUSSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In this study, the handgrip strength of both hands and We would like to thank Department of Anatomy
the body height in males were significantly greater than and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas
in females. We also found that taller people would have Airlangga, Faculty of Medicine, Hang Tuah University
greater handgrip strength. Previous study showed that for all supports.
the handgrip strength and the height growth rate are age
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