ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2018 May;177(5):198-203

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.17.03575-6

Copyright © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Correlation of handgrip strength and cardiovascular fitness with percent body fat in Singapore adolescents

Govindasamy BALASEKARAN ¹ ✉, Peggy BOEY ¹, Stanley S. HUI ², Visvasuresh V. GOVINDASWAMY ³, Yew C. NG ¹, Jolene LIM ¹

¹ Human Bioenergetics Laboratory, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore; ² The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; ³ Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL, USA

BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength and cardiovascular fitness had shown to be effective at predicting general health status. However, there has been a lack of research looking at the link between handgrip strength and cardiovascular fitness in Singapore adolescents.
METHODS: 679 girls (age: 13.33 ± 1.19 years, BF%: 22.8 ± 7.63%) and 792 boys (age: 13.49±1.16 years, BF% 21.59±10.27%) were recruited from Singapore schools. Percent body fat (BF%) was measured using a bio-impedance analysis machine. The handgrip strength (HGS) test was performed on a handgrip dynamometer thrice on each arm, in alternate turns. 15m PACER test was then ran at an increasing pace and stopped upon two strikes. The last number before the second strike was recorded as participants’ cardiovascular fitness (CF) result.
RESULTS: Positive correlation was found between HGS and CF, with lower correlation value shown under the influence of BF%. Correlation between HGS with BF% and CF with BF% showed significant negative correlation between the two sets of variables.
CONCLUSIONS: Higher CF and HGS were associated with lower BF%. BF% showed little influence between the relationship of CF and HGS in total cohort, between genders and age group. Lower correlation values observed in the girls group suggest irregular and low participation in physical activity.

KEY WORDS: Adolescent - Physical fitness - Physical education and training - Muscle strength - Exercise