Efficacy of 12-Week Grip Strength Training Program Amongst Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
Grip strength is indicative of overall health and longevity. The significance of strong grip increases with age, as it relates to lower mortality rates and improved functional capacity. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week suspension training program in enhancing grip strength among older adults. Methods: A total of 12 participants (mean age = 82.7 ± 4.8 years; height = 160.7 ± 7.4 cm; body mass = 64.2 ± 13.9 kg; 2 males; 10 females), completed the 12-week exercise intervention. The participants engaged in a twice-weekly, 45-minute suspension training regimen that incorporated a range of exercises targeting upper body strength and stability. Grip strength was assessed via handgrip dynamometer at baseline and post-intervention. A paired samples t-test was employed to assess differences between pre- and post-intervention grip strength. To mitigate the risk of Type I error due to multiple comparisons, a Bonferroni correction was applied, setting the adjusted alpha level at p = 0.025. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d to assess the practical significance of the findings. Results: The analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in right-hand grip strength, with values increasing from 21.5 ± 1.3 kg in Week 1 to 23.0 ± 1.4 kg in Week 12 (p = 0.006). No significant improvement was observed in left-hand grip strength (20.2 ± 1.2 kg to 21.1 ± 1.5 kg; p = 0.12). The right grip strength demonstrated a large effect (d = 0.99), whereas the left grip strength exhibited a moderate effect (d = 0.48). Conclusion: The 12-week suspension training intervention yielded significant improvements in right-hand grip strength among older adults. This unilateral improvement might suggest potential benefits for functional independence, fall prevention, and overall health in the elderly population, however, further research is needed to fully elucidate these effects. Future research should examine potential differences in bilateral grip strength responses and explore the underlying physiological mechanisms driving these observed outcomes
