Is a weak hand grip a sign of serious illness?

When it comes to keeping fit, your health really is in your hands—especially when you have a weak grip. Numerous scientific studies have linked a weakened grip to a raft of serious medical complaints, including a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. A strong grip, on the other hand, is often seen as the key to a long and healthy life. Recognizing the causes of weak hand grip and understanding the implications of the condition are, therefore, key in addressing this often overlooked issue.

So, is this something that concerns you? Click through the following gallery and get a better grip on this potentially fatal disorder and find out how you can improve hand grip strength.

What constitutes a strong grip?

A firm handshake generally indicates trust, confidence, and vigor. It can also be indicative of a strong grip.

Dangers of a weak grip

A weak grip, however, goes hand in hand with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, it is linked to a whole raft of health issues, anything from diabetes and obesity to muscle loss.

What grip strength means for overall health

Hand grip strength is a measure of the force exerted by the muscles in your hand and forearm. And the amount of force you have when you clench your hand around an object is a huge indication of your overall health.

Essential for performing everyday tasks

A strong grip is essential for performing a vast range of everyday tasks, for example the simple motion of opening a door.

Helps with day-to-day tasks

As another example, employing a pinch grip enables us to properly hold a pen or pencil in order to write or draw.

Other examples of a pinch grip

How would you cope without a decent pinch grip to hold a knife while buttering toast? Come to think of it, what about clutching a knife and fork, period?

The crush grip

There's also what's known as a crush grip. It's the strength exerted when squeezing an object between your fingers and palm. This lets us shake a hand, hold a dumbbell, or engage in a spot of arm wrestling, among many other actions.

Measuring grip strength

Grip strength is measured by a device called a hand dynamometer. It measures grip strength by converting the force exerted by a squeeze into a readable value, typically on a dial or digital display.

Nerve damage

Nerve damage in the hand can significantly impair grip strength. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or peripheral neuropathy can affect the nerves that control hand muscles.

Nutritional deficiencies

A lack of essential nutrients, particularly deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, and protein, can impact muscle health, including those in the hands and forearms, leading to reduced grip strength.

Stroke

In addition, a weak grip can be associated with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, due to the impact of the episode on the brain's ability to control muscle movement.

Limits daily routine

Reduced grip strength often limits a person's ability to perform daily activities, affecting their independence and quality of life.

How can you improve grip strength?

While a weak grip will not kill you directly, in the way that heart failure will, it is nonetheless indicative of problems far beyond your hands and wrists. So, how can you improve hand grip strength?

Wet towel wrings

Another method is to wring out a wet towel. Simply soak a towel in water, then grip and twist it to wring it out to strengthen crush grip.

Dead hangs

Try to hold on to a bar as long as your grip will allow you. This is a great exercise that activates your should muscles, which are vital for grip strength.