PP128 - RELATIVE HANDGRIP STRENGTH BASED ON MUSCLE-TO-BONE RATIO: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS FROM NHANES 2011-2014.

PP128

RELATIVE HANDGRIP STRENGTH BASED ON MUSCLE-TO-BONE RATIO: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS FROM NHANES 2011-2014.

M. Truchon¹, S. Lefevre¹, J. Smit¹, L. Duval¹, S. Eftekhariranjbar^2,3,*, L. M. Donini³, E. Poggiogalle³, P. Noirez¹

¹Faculty of Sport Sciences, Laboratory Performance, Santé, Métrologie, Société (PSMS), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France, ²Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University “G.D’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, ³Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Rationale: Handgrip strength normalised to the muscle-to-bone ratio (MtB) may provide a sensitive index of muscle quality, defined as strength relative to muscle mass. This study examined Relative Handgrip Strength (RHS) by Sex, Age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Percent Body Fat (%BF).

Methods: This cross-sectional study used NHANES 2011-2014 data (n=8912; 4622 males, 4290 females; mean age=28.3±15.6 years, range: 8-59 years) with complete DXA scans and handgrip measurements. MtB was calculated as Lean Mass/Bone Mineral Content for arms (left-right mean). RHS was defined as mean bilateral handgrip force (kg) divided by MtB. Participants were classified by BMI and %BF using age- and sex-specific thresholds. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn’s post hoc were applied. 

Results: RHS increased with age (8-12 years=0.97±0.32; 13-19 years=1.99±0.52; 20-29 years=2.36±0.59; 30-39 years=2.38±0.58; 40-49 years=2.32±0.56) and declined thereafter (50-59 years=2.17±0.60; p<0.0001). Quadratic regression confirmed an inverted-U trajectory (R²=0.53; p<0.0001), with sex as a covariate. Males showed higher RHS than females (p<0.0001). In youth, overweight and obese stratification had a higher RHS than normal-BMI (p<0.0001). In adults, only obese BMI group showed lower RHS compared to normal and overweight (p<0.0001). Conversely, %BF revealed an inverse gradient (Normal > Overweight > Obese %BF; all p<0.0001).

Conclusion: RHS follows an inverted-U trajectory peaking in the 3^rd-4^th decade. Obesity was associated with lower RHS from the 5^th-6^th decade onwards. %BF stratification revealed finer discrimination than BMI alone. RHS normalised to MtB may be a sensitive index for clinical muscle quality assessment. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared