Functional test
Grip strength
Handgrip strength · HGS
Five seconds and a dynamometer — one of the strongest single predictors of all-cause mortality independent of age and BMI.
What it measures
Maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the forearm flexors, recorded in kilograms (or pounds) on a calibrated hand-held dynamometer. Standardised protocols use three trials per hand with brief rest, taking the best value.
Reference context
3 guideline sources
Norms vary by sex, age, dominant vs non-dominant hand, ethnicity, and body size. Compare to age- and sex-matched percentiles rather than absolute thresholds for adults under 60. The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study found each 5 kg decrease in grip strength associated with a 17% increase in all-cause mortality.
Population context — consult guideline targets below
Mechanism
Why moving this marker matters
Grip strength correlates with global skeletal muscle strength, mitochondrial health, and neuromuscular integrity. Loss of grip strength tracks sarcopenia — the age-related decline in muscle quantity and quality that itself causally drives frailty, falls, and disability.
Guideline targets
What major guidelines recommend
EWGSOP2 (probable sarcopenia, men)
<27 kg
EWGSOP2 (probable sarcopenia, women)
<16 kg
Population norms (Bohannon)
Men 40s: ~46–52 kg, 60s: ~38–44 kg, 80s: ~28–34 kg. Women 40s: ~28–32 kg, 60s: ~22–26 kg, 80s: ~16–20 kg.
How to measure
The test, where to get it, when to repeat
Method
Seated, elbow flexed to 90°, arm unsupported. Squeeze maximally for 3–5 seconds. Three trials per hand with 60-second rest between, recording the highest value of any trial.
Where
Calibrated hand dynamometers (Jamar, Saehan, JTECH) cost €60–150. Many gyms and physiotherapy practices have one. Home testing is feasible with reasonable accuracy.
Typical cost
€60–150 for a home device; free at most physiotherapy and gym facilities.
Fasting
Not required
When to test
EWGSOP2 2019
60+Test annually in adults 60+; in younger adults, baseline value useful for tracking trajectory.
Bohannon norms
40+Useful as an annual self-tracked metric from age 40 onwards.
How to test
Doing this test
Most of these are self-tests you can run at home with little or no equipment. Where a small device is useful, we link to one.
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Context
Reading the numbers
Norms vary by sex, age, dominant vs non-dominant hand, ethnicity, and body size. Compare to age- and sex-matched percentiles rather than absolute thresholds for adults under 60. The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study found each 5 kg decrease in grip strength associated with a 17% increase in all-cause mortality.
Caveats
Acute conditions (recent injury, arthritis flare, anxiety) suppress single readings. Use averaged values across multiple weeks for monitoring. Hand size influences absolute values but not relative trajectory.
See also
Related markers
Take to your physician
Worth discussing
- If your value is below the EWGSOP2 threshold for your sex, whether further sarcopenia workup (DEXA appendicular lean mass, gait speed) is warranted.
- Whether your value is consistent with your training history.
- If you experience disproportionate weakness, whether further neurological or rheumatological workup is needed.
Sources
Cited literature
Edited by Carl Pöhl, MD · Healicus editorial
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