Physical Exercise Activity to Increase The Handgrip Strength in Elderly Populaiton During Covid-19: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine palmar grip force (PGF) in elderly population and its correlation with different parameters used in the usual practice of evaluation of nutritional status in elderly populaiton.

Methodology: It was obsevational, cross-sectional study. 300 elderly people over 65 years old, who were doing gym exercises at UFC gym and Structure gym, Lahore from December 2019 to July 2020. HS was obtained using the digital dynamometer model EH101, using the average of three measurements. The cutoff point considered for low muscle strength was HS < 27 kg for men and < 16 kg for women. The standard has been taken according to the 2019 consensus of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2, version 2019).

For the statistical analysis, the Statistical Package for Social Science 24.0 program was used and chi square test was applied, considering it significant when p <0.05.

Results: The sample consisted of elderly people with a mean age of 71.71 ± 5.97 years, of which 28% were aged between 65 and 75 years and 51.66% were male. In the analysis of the HS, we found 57.9% of the elderly with loss of muscle strength due to non-exercise during COVID-19. The muscle circumference of the arm and tricipital skin fold indicators found the highest percentages of malnutrition, 44.1% and 57.8%, respectively. HS showed a positive association  between age and handgrip test levels.

Conclusion: There was a high frequency of elderly people with impaired strength, but HS correlated only with APMT, not showing a direct relationship with other anthropometric parameters used in the routine practice of assessment with the elderly. Therefore, HS, or at least the evaluation of APMT, becomes indispensable for the evaluation and physical exercise training of elderly persons during COVID-19 pandemic.