HAND GRIP STRENGTH, LOWER EXTREMITY PERFORMANCE AND ACTIVE AGING AMONG 75-YEAR-OLD PEOPLE

Abstract

Active aging is an endorsed policy goal, which we defined and quantified at the individual level as a striving for activities as per one’s goals, abilities and opportunities. This study examines the association of physical functioning with active aging. Participants were 127 men and 167 women aged 75 years randomly drawn from the population register as part of the AGNES study. The validated University of Jyväskylä Active Aging Scale (UJACAS) assesses 17 meaningful activities from four aspects: goals, ability, opportunity and activity. Each dimension forms a sub-scale and their sum forms a total score ranging from 0 to 272 (higher scores indicate more active agency). Maximal handgrip strength was measured with a dynamometer, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to measure lower extremity performance. The mean total UJACAS score was 198.5 (Standard deviation, SD, 29.6) among men and 202.0 (SD 28.4) among women. For handgrip strength and SPPB score the values were 42.2 kg (SD 9.0) and 27.8 kg (SD 7.4), and 10.9 (SD 1.9) and 10.4. (SD 1.8) and 42.2 kg (SD 9.0) and 27.8 kg (SD 7.4), respectively. Among men, the UJACAS total score correlated with handgrip strength (r=0.245, p=0.006) and SPPB score (0.518, p<0.001) and all sub-scores. Among women, handgrip strength correlated only with the ability dimension of the UJACAS (r=0.268, p=0.001), while SPPB score correlated with the total UJACAS score (r=0.438, p<0.001) and all sub-scores. Better physical functioning correlates with higher active agency in meaningful activities, an important correlate of autonomy and wellbeing.