Association Between Grip Strength and Quality of Life as Specific Domain of Elderly: A Review

Abstract

Measures of grip strength have emerged as clinically viable for determining the risk for functional disability, early mortality, morbidity, and aided in identifying cognitive deficits. However, the phenomenon that links grip strength with quality of life remains unclear and remains limited. The aim of this review is to examine the factors associated with a decline in grip strength and its correlation with functional dependency, mobility, and cognitive status affecting the quality of life. The effect of this narrative review is to check the prevalence of decline in grip strength with age and how it can effect the quality of life in elderly.  A total of 60 studies were retrieved from 120 citations. The study concluded that most of the studies have shown a decline in the grip strength of both dominant and non-dominant factors of both males and females. Studies also revealed that the changes in the skeletal system led to changes in the hand grip as there was a change in ligaments and muscles in the elderly. Finally, it concluded that functional and cognitive dependency was decreased due to low grip strength, which may contribute to a decline in the quality of life in the elderly.