Grip Strength and Longevity

In college I was participating in a peer’s research study and they needed 20 strong college-aged people.

They determined who was strong by using a hand dynamometer. This device measures one’s grip strength by pounds of force you can create while giving it your best squeeze.

This was a simple low skill way to get the right participants for their study. It was the first time I learned how grip strength can be used as a predictor for total body strength.

Recently a couple GAIN members sent me this link, What grip strength can tell you about how well you’re aging.

“A wealth of research already tells us that strength is good for us. People who lift weights are substantially less likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure and many other chronic illnesses than those who skip resistance exercise.”

Grip strength can tell us how strong we are, and how strong we are can be a predictor for longevity.

This gave me the push to get our own dynamometer for the gym. We’ve been having fun with it over the past few days.

We’ve started calling it the truth-o-meter. It’ll tell you if you’re strong or not.

Next time you’re in the gym give it a squeeze.

Justin Miner

@justinminergain