Struggling to open a jar or hold onto a coffee cup? You’re not alone. Weak grip strength can creep up on us, making everyday tasks feel challenging. Other than being an inconvenience, it may also signal underlying health issues.
So, what does a weak grip strength indicate? Let’s explore more about the weak grip strength meaning, its common causes and when you should consider seeing a doctor.
Grip strength (GS) is how much force you can exert when squeezing something. It’s a simple way to measure your hand and overall muscle strength. Depending on your age, gender and lifestyle, GS will differ.
Strong grip strength often means better health, while a weak grip can indicate potential issues with muscle mass and mobility.
Grip strength may be a good indicator of your health. Health care professionals typically use a hand dynamometer, which you’ll squeeze as hard as you can. From the test results, your doctor can find interesting information about your health.
For instance, a stronger grip usually means better muscle health and mobility. On the other side, a weak grip can signal issues like declining muscle mass, which may make you more prone to chronic diseases like Diabetes.
Poor grip strength can have repercussions throughout the body and may affect mental health. In very simple terms, a weak GS may indicate weak muscles, which equates to low mobility. Not being able to move around doing your daily activities may lead to loneliness.
Let’s discuss several common causes of poor handgrip strength — knowing the cause may help you navigate your treatment options.
Arthritis in the hands may result in poor GS — more specifically, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA is mainly caused by your joints’ mechanical wear and tear, whereas RA is an autoimmune disease that attacks your joints. You may experience pain and swelling in conjunction with weak GS.
This condition occurs when the carpal tunnel or the tissues around your flexor tendons swell. The swelling adds pressure to the median nerve, which may also lead to hand weakness, pain, tingling and numbness.
Similar to the above, cubital tunnel syndrome results from swelling. However, the swelling occurs in the ulnar nerve on the inside of the elbow. Although the elbow is the problem area, many symptoms involve the hand. One of these symptoms is weakened GS.
Epicondylitis is caused by damaged forearm tendons. You can either develop medial epicondylitis — golfer’s elbow — or lateral epicondylitis — tennis elbow. The difference between the two depends on the tendons that either bend your wrists toward or away from the palm. Both of which can result in symptoms like poor GS and pain.
These fluid-filled sacs typically form near your joint on tendon. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that most ganglion cysts form on your wrist’s back. Although they’re considered harmless, they can add pressure on nerves, which can cause weakened muscles, pain and tingling in the area. The combination of these may lead to weak GS.
MS affects your central nervous system (CNS). Although there’s more we can learn about the condition, scientists believe it’s an autoimmune condition. The majority of people with MS may experience weakened muscles, especially in the arms and legs.
Also known as cervical radiculopathy, this condition happens when a nerve in your neck becomes irritated or something presses against it. Some causes of a pinched nerve can involve sudden injury or spine changes as you age. You may experience symptoms such as weakness and tingling in your hands and diminished sensation.
Because there are hundreds of peripheral neuropathy types, the symptoms of each depends on the nerves affected. Those that affect the hands include motor- and sensory nerve damage. Motor nerve damage causes muscle weakness, and sensory nerve damage causes sensation loss.
Pitcher’s elbow, or medical epicondyle apophysitis, is an injury that affects the tendons responsible for flexing the wrist and fingers. When these tendons are strained or inflamed, it can weaken GS. This form of tendinitis can make it painful to perform activities, like pitching a baseball.
Sarcopenia is age-related muscle mass loss, which can lead to weakened muscular functions and strength — including strength in the hands. Although the main cause of sarcopenia is aging, other factors such as a sedentary lifestyle and poor nutrition also play a role.
Strokes occur when something decreases or blocks the blood supply to your brain or when a blood vessel in your brain bursts. With strokes, you must act F.A.S.T. whenever you feel an onset of symptoms, such as total or sudden arm weakness on one side of your body. Call emergency services immediately.
Whenever you notice any stroke symptoms, immediately seek emergency medical services.
You should see a doctor if your grip strength keeps getting worse, causes pain or if you notice swelling or numbness in your hand or forearm. If it’s making everyday tasks harder or you suddenly can’t hold things, it’s definitely worth getting checked out.
Catching it early can help prevent more serious problems down the road, especially if it’s from overuse or an injury like tendinitis.
To diagnose weak grip strength, doctors use a grip strength dynamometer, which measures how strong your grip is by applying the right pressure. Typically, they’ll compare your injured hand to your uninjured one to see what’s normal for you.
For men, grip strength is considered weak if it’s below 57 pounds, and for women, it’s below 35 pounds. If your grip drops by more than 11%, it could even be a sign of a health issue.
Treatment may vary depending on the cause of your weak handgrip strength. That said, there are a few things you can do to help improve your GS, such as:
Consult with your doctor to help you choose which treatments are best for you.
If you’re noticing a decline in your handgrip strength, don’t brush it off as a normal part of aging. It could be a sign of underlying health issues that need attention. Staying proactive about your health is key, so if you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to reach out to a doctor.
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