Handgrip strength correlates with walking in lumbar spinal stenosis

Abstract

Purpose To examine the relationship between handgrip strength and leg extension power, walking speed, and intermittent claudication for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) using computed tomography. Methods We examined patients who underwent laminectomy for LSS from June 2015 through March 2018. Before spine surgery, we evaluated walking distance, handgrip strength, leg extension power (LEP), 10-m walk test (time and steps), psoas muscle index (PMI), and the area of both total and multifidus muscle using plain computed tomography imaging at the third lumbar level. Handgrip strength was compared with comorbidities including anemia, diabetes, hypertension, marital status, etc. Results There were 183 patients (55 female, 128 male) with a mean age of 70.5 years. Handgrip strength significantly correlated with LEP (P < 0.001, r = 0.723), walking speed (P < 0.001, r = − 0.269), 10-m walking test (steps) (P < 0.001, r = − 0.352), area of skeletal muscle at L3 level (P < 0.001, r = 0.469), area of psoas muscle (P < 0.001, r = 0.380), PMI (P < 0.001, r = 0.253), and intermittent claudication. Age, height, and weight were correlated with handgrip strength, but BMI was not correlated. Handgrip strength was significantly reduced by anemia, hypertension, and single marital status. Conclusions The more handgrip strength patients with LSS have, the more LEP, the faster walking speed, the greater area of psoas and skeletal muscle, the fewer steps for a 10-m walk they have, and the longer walking distance. Age, height, and weight were associated with handgrip strength, but BMI has no association. Low handgrip strength was related to comorbidities including anemia, hypertension, and marital status.

Physical and Psychological Factors Associated With Walking Capacity in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Neurogenic Claudication: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Two of these studies also showed no significant association between other objectives measures and walking capacity ( 36 , 40 ). Finally, one study reported a moderate negative correlation between handgrip strength and walking time and a weak positive correlation between handgrip strength and walking distance ( 30 ).…”

“…They also reported weak associations between either trunk extensor muscle endurance, knee flexion ROM, or knee extension strength asymmetry and the Habitual Gait Speed test, and a weak association between leg strength and the Chair Stand test ( 39 ). Finally, one study reported a moderate negative correlation between handgrip strength and walking steps ( 30 ).…”

“…Other Objective Outcome Measures. Overall, conflicting results were found based on the six studies reporting on the association between other objective measures and walking capacity (15,19,30,36,40). Specifically, one study reported a strong positive correlation between maximum time of continuous activity per day over a 7-day period (at a minimum of low intensity) and walking distance (40), and another study reported a moderate positive correlation between daily step count and walking distance (35).…”

Handgrip Endurance in Healthy Elderly People

“…Lifestyle interventions in the elderly, especially exercise and nutrition, have become the mainstay of treatment to improve this low muscle strength. These operations are also preventive measures for the elderly requiring long-term care, which are faced by countries entering a superaging society.There are many evaluation items based on grip strength [7][8][9], but few studies have evaluated handgrip endurance (ED) [10]. In addition, there are no studies that measured and compared the difference in ED changes between the elderly and young people, and the change with elapsed time (seconds).…”

Letter to the Editor concerning "Handgrip strength correlates with walking in lumbar spinal stenosis" by Inoue H. et al. [Eur Spine J (2020): DOI 10.1007/s00586-020-06525-1]

“…We read with great interest an article titled "Handgrip strength correlates with walking in lumbar spinal stenosis" authored by Inoue et al [1]. They examined the relationship between handgrip strength and leg extension power, walking speed, and intermittent claudication for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).…”