The Importance of Grip Strength

Grip strength is not only a measure of one's ability to grasp and hold onto objects but also an indicator of overall strength and longevity. We use grip strength more than we think we do in everyday life, from opening the fridge, writing, or even buttoning up a shirt. 

Grip strength alone measures overall muscle mass, bone density, and overall physical fitness. It has also been studied that there is a direct correlation between weak grip strength and a high mortality rate.

When you begin to lose strength in your hands and fingers, that is usually linked to loss of strength in the rest of your body. Although grip strength may not seem to address the entire body, the lack of mobility in your hands and upper body usually correlates to a lack of strength throughout the body. This includes the lower body, which then affects walking, climbing stairs, and standing up from a chair. This lack of strength to the rest of your body then leads to potential injuries, sedentary lifestyles, and frailty as you age.  

Ways to improve grip strength

• Strength training deadlifts, farmer carries, deadhangs, and exercises that involve gripping and lifting

• In older adults, ball squeezes, towel ringing, and finger extensions have been seen to improve strength 

• If you don’t use it, you lose it, so be sure to practice strengthening grip within day-to-day tasks.