Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Antwerp, Movant, Wilrijk, Belgium.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Aug 4;21(1):540. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04003-0.
Pregnancy results in many changes, including reduced hand grip strength (HGS). However, good HGS is required for physical functions such as carrying and breastfeeding the baby after birth. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that may predict HGS during pregnancy.
The study was a cross-sectional study approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Kano State Ministry of Health and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, north-west, Nigeria. Pregnant women at the designated hospitals were included in the study if they had no serious comorbidities or any known neurological condition that affects the hands and the neck. Demographic characteristics and independent (predictor) variables (age, weight, height, BMI, maternity leave status, number of full-term deliveries, number of preterm deliveries, number of live births, number of abortuses, gravidity, trimester, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, inter arm systolic BP difference [IASBP], inter arm diastolic BP difference [IADBP], and heart rate) of each of the participants were recorded by experienced therapists. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and standard multiple regression.
One hundred and sixty-one pregnant women with mean age, 25.04 ± 4.83 years participated in the study. In the dominant hand, 120 participants (74.5%) had weak grip strength. In the non-dominant hand, 135 participants (83.9%) had weak grip strength. For the dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was significant, 28.5%, F(11, 161) = 1.187, R = 0.081, p = 0.300 . In the final model, none of the variables significantly predicted HGS. However, systolic blood pressure contributed to the model more than any other variable (Beta = -0.155). For the non-dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was not significant, 33.1%, F(11, 161) = 1.675, R = 0.111, p = 0.089 . In the final model, only systolic blood pressure (Beta = -0.254, p = 0.023) significantly predicted hand grip strength.
Cardiovascular events or changes during pregnancy (such as change in systolic blood pressure) may be related to HGS in pregnant women. It is therefore, important for clinicians to pay attention to this, in planning rehabilitation strategies for pregnant women.
怀孕会导致许多变化，包括握力（HGS）下降。然而，良好的 HGS 对于产后携带和母乳喂养婴儿等身体功能是必需的。本研究旨在确定可能预测怀孕期间 HGS 的因素。
这项研究是一项横断面研究，得到了尼日利亚西北部卡诺州卫生部和卡诺教学医院的研究伦理委员会的批准。如果孕妇没有严重的合并症或任何已知影响手部和颈部的神经疾病，则将其纳入研究。由有经验的治疗师记录每位参与者的人口统计学特征和独立（预测）变量（年龄、体重、身高、BMI、产假状况、足月分娩次数、早产次数、活产数、流产数、孕次、孕中期、收缩压、舒张压、臂间收缩压差[IASBP]、臂间舒张压差[IADBP]和心率）。使用描述性统计、t 检验、皮尔逊相关系数和标准多元回归分析数据。
共有 161 名平均年龄为 25.04 ± 4.83 岁的孕妇参加了这项研究。在优势手中，有 120 名参与者（74.5%）握力较弱。在非优势手中，有 135 名参与者（83.9%）握力较弱。对于优势手，整个模型解释的总方差是显著的，28.5%，F（11,161）=1.187，R=0.081，p=0.300。在最终模型中，没有一个变量能显著预测 HGS。然而，收缩压对模型的贡献超过了任何其他变量（Beta=-0.155）。对于非优势手，整个模型解释的总方差不显著，33.1%，F（11,161）=1.675，R=0.111，p=0.089。在最终模型中，只有收缩压（Beta=-0.254，p=0.023）能显著预测握力。
怀孕期间的心血管事件或变化（如收缩压变化）可能与孕妇的 HGS 有关。因此，临床医生在为孕妇制定康复策略时，应注意这一点。
