Anyone who knows me, knows that I like my gadgets and I recently got a new one for the clinic, a dynamometer.
What is this you may ask? Well, a dynamometer is used to test grip strength. But why is grip strength important?
What is this you may ask? Well, a dynamometer is used to test grip strength. But why is grip strength important?
Aside from the obvious functional benefits of a strong grip (think lifting and carrying things), there has been a lot of research that has shown that your grip strength can be a good window to your overall health and wellbeing. In fact, some experts suggest that grip strength can even be a measure for how likely you are to develop and survive certain diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
A 2015 study showed that grip strength was lower in those individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension.
A 2016 study concluded that “Handgrip strength has a predictive validity for decline in cognition, mobility, functional status and mortality in older community-dwelling populations”.
More recently, a 2021 study that was looking at the length of hospital stays for people admitted with COVID-19, used grip strength as an indicator of muscle strength and mass. Interestingly, those that had higher muscle strength and mass had shorter hospitals stays.
So that’s some of the research on Grip strength, but why did I get a dynamometer for the practice?
We always need objective measures to assess how your body is functioning and changing over time. Measuring grip strength can be one of those measures.
But it gets more exciting.
It has been shown that chiropractic adjustments could improve your grip strength.
How cool is that!
A study from 2011 looked at the effect of chiropractic spinal manipulation on a team of top Judo Athletes. The results showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the grip strength in the treatment group compared to the sham group. Over the three treatments the treatment group received, the left-hand grip strength improved by up to 11.53% and the right-hand improved by up to 17.02%. This is a big improvement.
Results like this could be useful for anyone who requires grip strength for their work, sports or hobbies. Think of cricket or tennis players that need to hold onto their bat or racket. Also think of tradies, like builders, electricians, and plumbers, who need good grip strength to hold onto their tools.
How could an improvement in your grip strength help you in your work, sports or activities? Or even in your general health and wellbeing?
If you would like to find out some more about chiropractic care and how it may be able to help or benefit you, contact us.
References
A 2015 study showed that grip strength was lower in those individuals with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension.
A 2016 study concluded that “Handgrip strength has a predictive validity for decline in cognition, mobility, functional status and mortality in older community-dwelling populations”.
More recently, a 2021 study that was looking at the length of hospital stays for people admitted with COVID-19, used grip strength as an indicator of muscle strength and mass. Interestingly, those that had higher muscle strength and mass had shorter hospitals stays.
So that’s some of the research on Grip strength, but why did I get a dynamometer for the practice?
We always need objective measures to assess how your body is functioning and changing over time. Measuring grip strength can be one of those measures.
But it gets more exciting.
It has been shown that chiropractic adjustments could improve your grip strength.
How cool is that!
A study from 2011 looked at the effect of chiropractic spinal manipulation on a team of top Judo Athletes. The results showed that there was a statistically significant increase in the grip strength in the treatment group compared to the sham group. Over the three treatments the treatment group received, the left-hand grip strength improved by up to 11.53% and the right-hand improved by up to 17.02%. This is a big improvement.
Results like this could be useful for anyone who requires grip strength for their work, sports or hobbies. Think of cricket or tennis players that need to hold onto their bat or racket. Also think of tradies, like builders, electricians, and plumbers, who need good grip strength to hold onto their tools.
How could an improvement in your grip strength help you in your work, sports or activities? Or even in your general health and wellbeing?
If you would like to find out some more about chiropractic care and how it may be able to help or benefit you, contact us.
References
- Rijk et al, 2016, Prognostic value of handgrip strength in people aged 60 years and older: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Gil et al, 2021. Muscle strength and muscle mass as predictors of hospital length of stay in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19: a prospective observational study. Journal of cachexia, Sarcopenia and muscle.
- Mainous III et al, 2015, Grip strength as a marker of hypertension and Diabetes in Healthy weight adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
- Botelho & Andrade, 2011. Effect of Cervical Spine Manipulative Therapy on Judo Athletes' Grip Strength. JMPT
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