Low grip strength is associated with bone mineral density and vertebral fracture in women

Objectives. Grip strength has been reported to be associated with bone mass locally at the forearm and also at distant skeletal sites, including the spine and hip. Less is known about the association between low grip strength and risk of vertebral fracture. The aim of this study was to examine the association between low grip strength, bone mineral density at the hip and spine, and vertebral fracture in middle-aged and elderly European men and women. Methods. Men and women aged 50 yr and over were recruited for participation in a screening survey of vertebral osteoporosis across Europe. Subjects who agreed to take part had an interviewer-administered questionnaire and lateral spinal radiographs performed. Subjects were assessed also for grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer (range 0–300mmHg). A subsample of those recruited had bone mineral density measurements performed at the spine and femoral neck. Subjects had repeat lateral spine radiographs performed a mean of 3.8 yr following the baseline survey. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the association between low grip strength and bone mineral density at the hip and spine. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between grip strength and both prevalent and incident vertebral fracture. Results. One thousand two hundred and sixty-five men and 1380 women with data concerning grip strength and bone mineral density were included in the analysis. In women, after age adjustment, compared with those with ‘normal ’ grip, those with ‘impaired ’ (231–299mmHg) and low grip (<231mmHg) had significantly lower bone mass at the spine and femoral neck. In men, those with low grip strength had a lower BMD at the spine and hip than those in the normal group