Association between handgrip strength and physical activity: A nationwide population-based study in Korea

Background This study investigated the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and physical activity (PA) at different levels in Korean adults for the purpose of providing direction for increasing HGS, which represents muscular strength, and increasing understanding of PA and HGS. Methods This study targeted adults aged >= 30 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014-2019), including 31,888 participants for analysis. HGS was defined as the maximum value of the three measurements of the dominant hand. PA was defined as an activity that causes shortness of breath or a fast heartbeat. Data were weighted according to survey district and household data; p < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results In men, HGS in those aged 30-64 years was significantly associated with high-intensity PA and in those aged >= 65 years was associated with moderate-intensity PA. In women, HGS in those aged 30-64 years was also significantly associated with high-intensity PA, and in those aged >= 65 years, it was significantly associated with both moderate- and high-intensity PA. Moreover, compared to participants who did not participate in weight training, those who participated showed higher HGS in both sexes. Conclusions This study demonstrated age- and sex-specific characteristics of the association between HGS and PA in Koreans. The findings suggest the importance of managing health by considering differences in age- and sex-related PA. In particular, this study suggests that adequate PA is necessary despite its importance of PA for elderly individuals.