Dr Victor Matsudo

The Center for the Study of Physical Fitness Laboratory of São Caetano do Sul - CELAFISCS this week attending the European Congress of Sport Sciences in Bruges in Belgium. The Center is represented by Dr. Victor and Dr. Sandra Matsudo that on 7th July  will present in one of the scientific sessions of the event study: HANDGRIP STRENGTH SEEMS TO BE AN IMPORTANT PREDICTOR OF PHYSICAL FITNESS REGARDLESS OF PUBERTAL STATUS. The European Congress of Sport Sciences is one of the most important events in the international calendar of the area and Sports Science and presentation of a work through this select scientific highlights once again the high quality of scientific production CELAFISCS, appearing side by side the most important research centers and major universities abroad.

Handgrip Strength Seems To Be An Important Predictor Of Physical Fitness Regardless Of Pubertal Status

Sandra Marcela Mahecha Matsudo¹, Leandro Fórnias Machado de Rezende¹, Victor Keihan Rodrigues Matsudo1 and Vagner Raso ^2,3
1Center of Studies and Laboratory of Physical Fitness from São Caetano do Sul, CELAFISCS, Brazil; ²Medicine and Physical Education School of the São Paulo Western University, UNOESTE, Brazil; ³Master Program on Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion, Bandeirante University of São Paulo, UNIBAN Brazil, Brazil.

Introduction

Numerous tests and measures have been used to physical fitness assessment. Handgrip (HG) dynamometry is one of the simplest to apply, and studies have showed that HG is associated with sports performance (FERRAGUT et al 2011). However, a few studies have showed the power of HG to predict other physical fitness variables.

Purpose

To examine the power of HG to predict physical fitness in boys and girls with different sexual maturation levels.

Methods

A cross-sectional study from the “Longitudinal Project of Growth, Development and Physical Fitness in Children from Ilhabela”, Brazil. The sample consisted of 468 youth aged 10-15 living in a low socioeconomic status island in Brazil. We measured body composition (BMI, waist circumference and adiposity with mean of 7 skinfolds), physical fitness (lower limb strength: with vertical jump test, standing long jump; curl up, flexibility, agility and speed), energy expenditure (IPAQ), HG strength (mechanical dynamometer - Takey) and Pubertal status by Tanner self-evaluated. Multiple regression analysis investigated associations of physical fitness parameters with age, sexual maturation, energy expenditure and grip strength. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

The prediction power of HG in total sample was: 29% for vertical jump (R=.54, R2=.29; P=.002), 46% for standing long jump (R=.68, R2=.46; P=.0005), 24% for curl up (R=.49, R2=.24; P=.010), 4% for flexibility (R=.21, R2=.04; P=.655), 25% for agility (R=-.50, R2=.25; P=.0005), 38% for speed at seconds (R=-.61, R2=.38; P=.0005) and 47% for speed at meters per seconds (R=.69, R2=.47; P=.0005) to 47% (speed at meters per seconds: R=.69, R2=.47; P=.0005).

Discussion

Studies have showed the importance of hand-grip as a predictor of some anthropometric variables (SHYAMAL K et al. 2009). Our results support that hand-grip is consistently associated with several distinct parameters of physical fitness regardless of age, gender and sexual maturation, permitting to suggest that physical fitness could be independently predicted by hand grip strenght with an elevated accuracy.

References

Ferragut C, Vila H, Abraldes JA et al. (2011) Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 51, 26-32
Shyamal K, Pal SA. (2009) Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 67, 21-28
Wander P, Boyko EJ, Leonetti DL et al. (2011) Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 92, 261-264

#supported by FAPESP process number 2010/20749-8

http://www.ecss-congress.eu/2012/