The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults
Objective: To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and sex, anthropometrics, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness has not been well studied in children, adolescents, and young adults. Study design: A single-center retrospective review of patients <25 years old with...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950541025000067 |
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| author | Carter G. Richardson, MD Alexander R. Opotowsky, MD, MMSc Clifford Chin, MD Wayne A. Mays, MS, RCPT Sandra K. Knecht, MS Adam W. Powell, MD, MS |
| author_facet | Carter G. Richardson, MD Alexander R. Opotowsky, MD, MMSc Clifford Chin, MD Wayne A. Mays, MS, RCPT Sandra K. Knecht, MS Adam W. Powell, MD, MS |
| author_sort | Carter G. Richardson, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and sex, anthropometrics, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness has not been well studied in children, adolescents, and young adults. Study design: A single-center retrospective review of patients <25 years old without known heart disease and referred for clinical cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. Each patient underwent HGS testing, bioelectrical impedance body composition analysis, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Relationships between variables were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, cubic spline, and multivariable analysis. Comparisons by sex were performed using the Student t test. Results: The study included 316 patients without heart disease (age 15.1 ± 2.4 years old; 35% male). Male patients had greater peak dominant (34.4 ± 11.9 kg vs 27.8 ± 6.2 kg; P < .001) and nondominant (32.1 ± 11.1 kg vs 25.3 ± 6.0 kg; P < .001) HGS than female patients, with these differences more noticeable in the teenage years. Peak dominant HGS averaged 30.2 ± 9.3 kg and was correlated with age (r = 0.49, P < .001) and weight (r = 0.56, P < .0001); peak dominant HGS was even more strongly correlated with total body skeletal muscle mass (r = 0.80, P < .001), peak oxygen consumption (mL/min) (r = 0.69, P < .0001), and peak work rate (r = 0.70, P < .001). Conclusions: HGS is strongly associated with total and segmental skeletal muscle mass, peak work rate, and peak oxygen consumption. Sex-based differences in handgrip strength values emerge in mid-teenage years in parallel to expected pubertal changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-06da29204908418195d8fa785771cf83 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2950-5410 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-06da29204908418195d8fa785771cf832025-08-20T02:06:08ZengElsevierJournal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice2950-54102025-06-011620014410.1016/j.jpedcp.2025.200144The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young AdultsCarter G. Richardson, MD0Alexander R. Opotowsky, MD, MMSc1Clifford Chin, MD2Wayne A. Mays, MS, RCPT3Sandra K. Knecht, MS4Adam W. Powell, MD, MS5Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OHDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH; The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OHDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH; The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OHThe Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OHThe Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OHDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH; The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH; Reprint requests: Adam W. Powell, MD, MS, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, The Heart Institute, 3333 Burnett Ave, MLC 2003, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3026.Objective: To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and sex, anthropometrics, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness has not been well studied in children, adolescents, and young adults. Study design: A single-center retrospective review of patients <25 years old without known heart disease and referred for clinical cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. Each patient underwent HGS testing, bioelectrical impedance body composition analysis, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Relationships between variables were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, cubic spline, and multivariable analysis. Comparisons by sex were performed using the Student t test. Results: The study included 316 patients without heart disease (age 15.1 ± 2.4 years old; 35% male). Male patients had greater peak dominant (34.4 ± 11.9 kg vs 27.8 ± 6.2 kg; P < .001) and nondominant (32.1 ± 11.1 kg vs 25.3 ± 6.0 kg; P < .001) HGS than female patients, with these differences more noticeable in the teenage years. Peak dominant HGS averaged 30.2 ± 9.3 kg and was correlated with age (r = 0.49, P < .001) and weight (r = 0.56, P < .0001); peak dominant HGS was even more strongly correlated with total body skeletal muscle mass (r = 0.80, P < .001), peak oxygen consumption (mL/min) (r = 0.69, P < .0001), and peak work rate (r = 0.70, P < .001). Conclusions: HGS is strongly associated with total and segmental skeletal muscle mass, peak work rate, and peak oxygen consumption. Sex-based differences in handgrip strength values emerge in mid-teenage years in parallel to expected pubertal changes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950541025000067bioelectrical impedance analysiscardiopulmonary exercise testingcardiopulmonary fitnesshandgrip strength |
| spellingShingle | Carter G. Richardson, MD Alexander R. Opotowsky, MD, MMSc Clifford Chin, MD Wayne A. Mays, MS, RCPT Sandra K. Knecht, MS Adam W. Powell, MD, MS The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults Journal of Pediatrics: Clinical Practice bioelectrical impedance analysis cardiopulmonary exercise testing cardiopulmonary fitness handgrip strength |
| title | The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults |
| title_full | The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults |
| title_short | The Relationship of Handgrip Strength to Body Composition and Cardiopulmonary Fitness in Children and Young Adults |
| title_sort | relationship of handgrip strength to body composition and cardiopulmonary fitness in children and young adults |
| topic | bioelectrical impedance analysis cardiopulmonary exercise testing cardiopulmonary fitness handgrip strength |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950541025000067 |
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