# Associations between absolute and relative handgrip strength with fitness and fatness

## TL;DR

This study shows that handgrip strength is linked to body composition and physical fitness in young adults.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a new perspective on how absolute and relative handgrip strength correlate with health markers.

## Key findings

- Absolute handgrip strength is strongly linked to lean mass and vertical jump performance.
- Relative handgrip strength is negatively associated with body fat and positively with VO2 max.
- Lower relative handgrip strength scores may indicate higher body fat levels.

## Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to assess relationships between absolute and
relative handgrip strength (HGS) versus other markers of health (body
composition) and physical fitness (VO
2
max, vertical jump) in 220
(112 male) healthy young adults (25±10 years). HGS was measured using a hand
dynamometer. Absolute HGS represented the highest grip strength measurement (kg)
of the right and left hand combined, while relative HGS represented the absolute
HGS divided by body weight (kg/kg). Body composition (lean and fat mass) was
measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. VO
2
max was measured
using a treadmill peak speed protocol (ml/kg/min), while vertical jump was
assessed using a countermovement jump (cm). Absolute HGS (mean=86±22 kg) was
positively related with lean mass (r=0.82, p<0.001) and vertical jump
(r=0.63, p<0.001), while relative HGS (mean=1.2±0.2 kg/kg) was negatively
related with body fat (r=–0.69, p<0.001), but positively correlated with
VO
2
max (r=0.47, p<0.001), and vertical jump (r=0.45,
p<0.001). Linear models suggest that lean mass, body fat, and vertical jump
predicted 69% of variance for absolute HGS (adjusted R
2
=0.71,
p<0.001), while lean mass and body fat predicted 49% of variance for relative
HGS (adjusted R
2
=0.49, p<0.001). Lower relative HGS scores
(<1.0 kg/kg) were associated with higher body fat levels and may represent a
quick, simple, marker of health.