Hand grip strength: age- and gender-stratified normative data in Egyptian population-based study by the Egyptian Academy of Bone and Muscle Health

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed to establish age- and gender-stratified normative data for hand grip strength (HGS) in a population-based sample of healthy Egyptian adults and to analyze its relationship with various socio-demographic and anthropometric parameters. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 2,247 healthy Egyptian participants (900 men, 1,347 women). HGS was measured in kilograms (kg) using a digital hand dynamometer following a standardized bilateral protocol. Anthropometric data (including BMI, hand size, and body circumferences) and socio-demographic characteristics (marital status and occupation) were collected. Data were stratified by age decade and gender for mean, confidence interval, and percentile reference allocation. Results HGS exhibited highly significant gender dimorphism, with men demonstrating significantly higher strength than women across all age categories ( p < 0.001). In both sexes, HGS peaked in the 18–30-year age cohort, with men averaging 46.6 + 17.5 kg (Right) and women averaging 25.8 + 10.8 kg (Right). HGS showed a continuous, significant decline across successive age decades that was noticeably steeper in men (Right HGS vs. age: r = -0.580, p < 0.01) than in women (Right HGS vs. age: r = -0.184, p < 0.01), though women’s right HGS demonstrated a distinct stabilization plateau between ages 51 and 71+. Correlation analysis showed that HGS was positively linked to dominant hand size and calf circumference in both sexes ( p < 0.01). In men, weak but significant negative correlations were observed with BMI ( r = -0.144) and mid-arm circumference ( r = -0.103), whereas BMI and waist circumference had no statistically significant correlation with HGS in women ( p > 0.05). Socio-demographic stratification revealed that handgrip strength significantly varied by marital status and occupation ( p < 0.001), with single individuals and students achieving the highest baseline metrics. Conclusion This study establishes the first comprehensive, age- and gender-stratified normative database and percentile reference values for HGS in an Egyptian cohort. These findings supply clinicians with a vital, population-specific diagnostic standard for risk-stratifying muscle wasting, frailty, and sarcopenia. The sharper age-related decline seen in men compared to the late-life plateau observed in women highlights distinct physiological trajectories that warrant further clinical investigation.