Age differences in hand grip power in the elderly.

This study aimed to clarify the age-level difference of hand grip power in females. The subjects were 15 healthy young females (mean age 21.5 ± 1.4 years, mean height 159.5 ± 2.9 cm, mean mass 52.6 ± 6.1 kg) and 15 elderly females (mean age 65.0 ± 2.6 years, mean height 155.2 ± 5.3 cm, mean mass 56.5 ± 7.3 kg). Peak velocity of the dominant hand was measured using three different loads of 30, 40 and 50% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The MVC and hand grip power were meaningfully greater in the young group than in the elderly group. The peak velocity in all loads showed a meaningful difference between both groups and it was faster in the order of 30, 40 and 50% MVC in both groups. The required time to reach peak velocity at 50% MVC was meaningfully longer in the elderly group, but was significantly shorter at 30% MVC than at 40 and 50% MVC in both groups. In conclusion, the age-level difference in hand grip power using relative loads depends more greatly on MVC than velocity in females. The muscle tensile related to hand grip movement decreases with age.