The Relationship Between Arm Fat Free Mass and Hand Grip Strength in Elderly Women

Abstract

Introduction: As they age, older adults experience a decline in muscle mass and function, which affects their physical abilities and independence. Muscle strength can be measured through Handgrip Strength (HGS), while Fat Free Mass (FFM) is the component of the body that reflects muscle tissue. Both indicators play an important role in assessing muscle function and detecting the risk of sarcopenia in older adults. Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between right and left arm FFM and HGS in elderly women. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional approach with 33 subjects (age 62.18 ± 9.19 years; height 150.95 ± 5.38 cm; weight 61.09 ± 9.79 kg; BMI 26.81 ± 4.09 kg/m²). Body composition was measured using InBody 270 and HGS with Takei handgrip. Data analysis used SPSS 27 with the Shapiro–Wilk test and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05). Results: The mean FFM of the right arm was 1.89 ± 0.39 kg, the left 1.87 ± 0.40 kg; right HGS 20.64 ± 5.50 kg, and the left 17.89 ± 3.89 kg. There was a significant positive correlation between right and left FFM and right and left HGS (p < 0.05; r = 0.50–0.58) with moderate strength. Conclusion: This study proves that the higher the fat-free mass of the arm, the greater the grip strength in older adults.