Sex and age variations in anthropometry and hand grip strength amongst students of Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

Abstract

Hand grip strength (HGS) is a physiological variable that is affected by several factors including age, gender and body size among others. The power of grip is the result of forceful flexion of all finger joints with the maximum voluntary force that the subject is able to exert under normal biokinetic conditions. This study was designed to determine sexual dimorphism in HGS and anthropometric variables between males and females and the relationship between HGS, age and anthropometric variables in students of Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Zaria. Participants (n=612) were undergraduate and post graduate students of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, male (n=302) and female (n=310), age range 18 to 45 years. Participants were divided into three age groups of 18-25, 26-35 and 36-45. HGS in standing with elbows in full extension and HGS in sitting with elbows at 900 flexion was measured using a baseline hydraulic hand dynamometer. Hand length (HL), hand breadth (HB), forearm length (FAL), arm length (AL) and mid arm circumference (MAC) of participants were measured using appropriate equipment and methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The finding of the study showed significant sexual dimorphism in the anthropometric variables with males showing higher values than females except for BMI. Significant (p<0.05) sexual dimorphism was found in all the studied anthropometric variables, except for AL and MAC. This study also revealed that participants in the age range of 26-35years had remarkably (p<0.05) higher values of grip HGS in both standing and sitting positions; increase in the anthropometric variables of MAC, HT, WT and BMI in relation to the other age categories. This study confirms sexual dimorphism. The study confirms that HGS varies with age.