Association of Handgrip Strength with Body Composition and Physical Fitness among First-Year MBBS Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Rajyalakshmi  Siddigari; T. V. Renuka  Devi

Authors

Rajyalakshmi Siddigari Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Anna Gowri Medical college and Hospital, Parameswaramangalam, Puttur, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
T. V. Renuka Devi Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Dr. Patnam Mahender Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Keywords:

Handgrip strength; body composition; skeletal muscle mass; physical fitness; medical students; six-minute walk test.

Abstract

Background: Handgrip strength is a simple and non-invasive measure of muscular strength and may reflect overall muscular and functional fitness. Body composition and physical fitness are important determinants of physical performance in young adults. The present study was undertaken to assess the association between handgrip strength, body composition and physical fitness among first-year MBBS students.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 120 first-year MBBS students aged 17–20 years.
Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical
impedance analysis, including body-fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass and fat-free mass. Handgrip strength was measured using
a calibrated handgrip dynamometer. Physical fitness was assessed using the six-minute walk test, and the distance covered in six
minutes was recorded. Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between handgrip strength and body-composition and
physical-fitness parameters. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 19.1 ± 0.8 years. The mean handgrip strength was 29.8 ± 8.2 kg, while the mean sixminute
walk distance was 570.1 ± 61.5 m. Handgrip strength showed a strong positive correlation with skeletal muscle mass (r=0.68,
p<0.001) and fat-free mass (r=0.64, p<0.001). A weak positive correlation was observed with BMI (r=0.29, p=0.001), while body-fat
percentage showed a weak negative correlation (r=−0.24, p=0.008). Handgrip strength also showed a moderate positive correlation
with six-minute walk distance (r=0.37, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Handgrip strength was positively associated with skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass and physical fitness among firstyear
MBBS students. It may serve as a simple and practical indicator of muscular and functional fitness in young adults.