We are running a study where we measure grip strength to older patients in acute medical wards to flag up those with low levels who might be at risk of poor healthcare outcomes. We know that grip strength vary according to age, gender, and dominant hand, but I am not aware that there is any research on whether the grip strength of a patient vary when it is being tested before and after meals. It would be helpful if anyone can share their experiences or refer me to any useful references.
I can't see the relevance of this study. If the client has the motivation to eat and the skills involved - what is the significance of grip strength after meals? How will your study provide information that is meaningful to clients healthcare outcomes? What are the assumptions/hypotheses underpinning your study?
Thank you Ruth for your comment. I guess I did not explain my study clearly. The aim of my study is to assess the feasibility of implementing grip strength measurement routinely on admission to medicine for older people wards as a way to identify older patients at high risk of poor healthcare outcomes (link to the published study protocol https://pilotfeasibilitystudies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40814-016-0067-x ) We have trained a large number of nursing staff on how to use Jamar to measure grip strength and routine implementation has started in 5 wards now. the standardised protocol involves measuring grip strength 3 times in each hand and take the maximum. But one of the questions that came to my mind while we are conducting the study is related to a possible variation of grip strength measurement after food intake, and my question was related to that. I hope that makes sense!
Hi Kinda, to what end? What is the scientific merit? Do you mean measure it after a MEAL or after weeks/months of appropriate nutrition to mitigate sarcopenia and frailty? Help me see it. Thank you. Jan Vinita White, PhD, Gerontologist
Thanks Jan Vinita for your comment. I meant instant variation in grip strength measurement after meals. I tried to measure grip strength of few of my colleagues before and after lunch and we noticed that grip strength was higher after having their lunch!!! Therefore I wondered whether there is any research to support this idea! I know poor diet in general has a correlation with low grip strength and sarcopenia. Standardised protocols for measuring grip strength require testing the grip strength 3 times in each hand and then take the maximum value. If we are interested in the maximum grip strength value then variation of grip strength before and after meals might be of interest as well! hope that makes sense!
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