Hand grip strength should be normalized by weight not height for eliminating the influence of individual differences: Findings from a cross-sectional study of 1,511 healthy undergraduates

The effects and post-exercise energy metabolism characteristics of different high-intensity interval training in obese adults

This study aimed to compare the effects of two high-intensity interval training modalities on body composition and muscular fitness in obese young adults and examined the characteristics of energy expenditure (EE) after training. Thirty-six obese young adults (eleven female, age: 22.1 ± 2.3 years, BMI: 25.1 ± 1.2 kg/m2) were to Whole-body high-intensity interval training group (WB-HIIT) (n = 12), jump rope high-intensity interval training group (JR-HIIT) (n = 12), or non-training control group (CG) (n = 12). WB-HIIT and JR-HIIT groups performed an 8-week HIIT protocol. WB-HIIT, according to the program of unarmed resistance training, JR-HIIT use rope-holding continuous jump training, each execution of 4 sets of 4 × 30 s training, interval 30 s, inter-set interval 1min, and the control group maintained their regular habits without additional exercise training. Body composition and muscular strength were assessed before and after 8 weeks. Repeated measures analysis of variance and clinical effect analysis using Cohen's effect size were used, with a significance level of p < 0.05. In comparison with the CG group in both experimental groups, Body Mass and BMI significantly reduced (p < 0.05), and Muscular strength significantly improved (p < 0.05).WB-HIIT versus JR-HIIT: Fat Mass (- 1.5 ± 1.6; p = 0.02 vs - 2.3 ± 1.2; p < 0.01) and % Body Fat (- 1.3 ± 1.7; p = 0.05 vs - 1.9 ± 1.9; p < 0.01) the effect is more pronounced in the JR-HIIT group; Muscle Mass (1.5 ± 0.7; p < 0.01 vs - 0.8 ± 1.1; p = 0.07) the effect is more pronounced in the WB-HIIT group. Estimated daily energy intake (122 ± 459 vs 157 ± 313; p > 0.05). Compared to the CG, body composition was significantly improved in both intervention groups. All three groups had no significant changes in visceral adipose tissue (p > 0.05). Significant differences in Lipid and Carbohydrate oxidation and energy output were observed between the two groups, as well as substantial differences in WB-HIIT and JR-HIIT VO2, ventilation, and energy consumption minute during the 0-5 min post-exercise period (p > 0.05). WB-HIIT and JR-HIIT interventions effectively improve the body composition of young adults with obesity, while WB-HIIT additionally improves muscular fitness. After exercise, WB-HIIT produces higher excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and associated lipid and carbohydrate metabolism than JR-HIIT.

Predictive analysis of dominant hand grip strength among young children aged 6-15 years using machine learning techniques: a decision tree and regression analysis

Background

This study aimed to investigate and understand predictor variables and isolate the exact roles of anthropometric and demographic variables in the hand grip strength of young children.

Material and methods

In total, 315 male and female children participated in the study and 11 participants were excluded, therefore, 304 participants completed the assessments. Anthropometric measurements were collected at the time of study, along with age, height, weight, circumference of the hand, hand span, hand length, palm length, and hand grip strength (HGS) was measured. Both decision tree and regression machine learning analyses were used to isolate the relative contribution of independent features in predicting the targeted grip strength of children.

Results

Two predictive models were developed to understand the role of predictor variables in dominant hand HGS for both boys and girls. For boys, the decision tree was found to be the best model with the lowest error in predicting HGS. The respondents' age, hand span, and weight were the most significant contributors to male hand grip strength. For the boys under 9.5 years of age, based on the decision tree analysis, weight (split at 27.5 kg) was found to be the most significant predictor. Furthermore, for the boys under 14.5 years of age, weight (split at 46.7 kg) remained the most important predictor. For boys 14.5 years and older, hand span was important in predicting handgrip strength. Backward regression was found to be the best model for predicting female hand grip strength. The R 2 value for the model was 0.6646 and the significant variables were body mass index (BMI), hand length, hand span, and palm length, showing significance at a p-value of ≤0.05. This model predicted 66.46% of the variance in handgrip strength among the girls.

Conclusion

Anthropometric factors played a significant role in hand grip strength. Age, weight, and a larger hand span were found to be significant in impacting male HGS, while BMI, hand length, and palm length contributed to higher grip strength among the girls.

The Relationship Between Health Parameters, Body Size, Elements of Lifestyle, and Hand Grip Strength in a Group of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, Aged 40-98, from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Background/Objectives: Decreased muscle strength and lower hand grip strength (HGS) values are observed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to present the values of hand grip strength as a valuable tool in T2D treatment monitoring in the context of body size and lifestyle elements in 347 patients with type 2 diabetes from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at hospitals in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The maximum grip strengths of the right and left hands were measured three times, alternatively, using a digital hand dynamometer. The maximum grip strength of the dominant hand was used for the analysis. Results: The values of HGS in both hands dropped with increased age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), the duration of diabetes, and low glucose blood levels, whereas they increased with height. Patients who smoked had the lowest three values of HGS (the average value for each hand), whereas patients who quit smoking had the highest values. Second-order interactions between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and sex showed a significant effect on the average HGS of both hands and for the left hand in particular (where HGS decreased only in females, whereas it increased in males). Conclusions: HGS is influenced by important socioeconomic and anthropometric factors in patients with type 2 diabetes, making it a valuable indicator of general health.

Effect of a smartphone-based physical intervention on depression, fitness factors and movement characteristics in adults

BACKGROUND

Physical activity has been shown to correlate with mental health and a reduction in symptoms of depression. However, the majority of research has focused only on the effects of either aerobic or nonaerobic exercise on depressive symptoms, while the use of novel technological innovations such as mobile phone-based activity programs and their effects on movement characteristics are underrepresented. This study had two objectives: (1) to investigate how effectively 4 weeks of mobile phone-based physical activity can affect depressive scores (CES-10-D and PHQ) and fitness levels and (2) to investigate the whether 4 weeks of mobile phone-based physical activity affected participants' movement characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 31 participants were included and divided into an exercise group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 10). The exercise group was instructed to use a mobile phone-based exercise program 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-exercise, the participants' depression score (CES-10-D, PHQ9), fitness level (YMCA, grip strength) and movement characteristics (postural sway, movement ROM, movement speeds, etc.) for three Azure Kinect physical activity games based on different fitness factors (balance game, cardiovascular game, reaction game) were measured.

RESULTS

Mixed model ANOVA revealed significant differences between pre- and post-intervention depression scores on the PHQ9 (P = .001) and CES-10-D (P < .001) in both the exercise group and the control group, but not between groups. In terms of movement characteristics, there was an increase in body sway (P = .045) and vertical head movement (P = .02) in the cardiovascular game jogging condition for the exercise group. In the reaction game, the exercise group showed a significant reduction in the number of mistakes (P = .03). There were no other significant differences for the other variables.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed no differences in the reduction in depression scores between the exercise group and the control group. However, this study showed that a mobile phone-based physical activity intervention affects in-game movement characteristics such as body sway and vertical head movement and therefore may show the potential of using activity-promoting mobile games for improving movement.

Cut-off points for knee extension strength: identifying muscle weakness in older adults

PURPOSE

Generalized muscle weakness is the primary characteristic of sarcopenia. Handgrip strength (HGS) is widely employed to detect muscle weakness. However, knee extension strength (KES) declines much earlier and more pronounced than HGS, and there is a stronger correlation between KES and functional performance. Therefore, KES may be a more appropriate proxy for identifying muscle weakness compared to HGS. The purpose of this review was to clarify the KES measurement towards a standardized approach and summarize the cut-off points for KES.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus and Medline databased up to July 10th, 2023.

RESULTS

A total of 12 articles were ultimately included in this review, which proposed various cut-off points for KES. Notably, these studies exhibited high heterogeneities, including diverse living settings for participants, KES measurement, methods for KES normalization, methodologies for determining cut-off points and study designs.

CONCLUSIONS

No consensus on cut-off points for KES was reached due to the heterogeneities in KES measurement and normalized methods among studies. To enhance the comparability among studies and facilitate the sarcopenia screening framework, a standardized approach for KES measurement and KES normalization are needed. Regarding KES measurement, the hand-held dynamometer-based isometric KES is easy to access and ideally suited for both clinical and community settings, while isokinetic KES, representing the gold standard, is preferred for research settings. Additionally, it is suggested to normalize isometric KES to body weight (BW), while normalizing isokinetic KES to allometrically scaled BW.

Assessment of the correlation between supracrestal gingival tissue dimensions and other periodontal phenotypes components via the digital registration method: a cross‑sectional study in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Supracrestal gingival tissue dimensions (SGTDs) has been considered to be an essential element of periodontal phenotype (PP) components. This study aimed to explore the relationship between SGTDs and other PP components by digital superposition method that integrated cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with intraoral scanning.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Stomatology Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Participants were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data obtained from the digital scanner (TRIOS 3, 3Shape, Denmark) and CBCT images were imported into the TRIOS software (Implant Studio, 3Shape, Denmark) for computing relevant parameters. The significant level was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 83 participants with 498 maxillary anterior teeth were finally included. The mean values of supracrestal gingival height (SGH) and the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the crest of the alveolar ridge (CEJ-ABC) on the buccal site were significantly higher than palatal SGH (SGH-p) and palatal CEJ-ABC (CEJ-ABC-p). Men exhibited taller CEJ-ABC and SGH-p than women. Additionally, tooth type was significantly associated with the SGH, SGH-p and CEJ-ABC-p. Taller SGH was associated with wider crown, smaller papilla height (PH), flatter gingival margin, thicker bone thickness (BT) and gingival thickness (GT) at CEJ, the alveolar bone crest (ABC), and 2 mm apical to the ABC. Smaller SGH-p displayed thicker BT and GT at CEJ, the ABC, and 2 and 4 mm apical to the ABC. Higher CEJ-ABC showed lower interproximal bone height, smaller PH, flatter gingival margin, thinner GT and BT at CEJ, and 2 mm apical to the ABC. Smaller CEJ-ABC-p displayed thicker BT at CEJ and 2 and 4 mm apical to the ABC. On the buccal, thicker GT was correlated with thicker BT at 2 and 4 mm below the ABC.

CONCLUSION

SGTDs exhibited a correlation with other PP components, especially crown shape, gingival margin and interdental PH. The relationship between SGTDs and gingival and bone phenotypes depended on the apico-coronal level evaluated.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of Stomatology Hospital of Fujian Medical University (approval no. 2023-24).

Multipoint surface electromyography measurement using bull's-eye electrodes for wide-area topographic analysis

BACKGROUND

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is primarily used to analyze individual and neighboring muscle activity. However, using a broader approach can enable simultaneous measurement of multiple muscles, which is essential for understanding muscular coordination. Using the "bull's-eye electrode," which allows bipolar derivation without directional dependence, enables wide-area multipoint sEMG measurements. This study aims to establish a multipoint measurement system and demonstrate its effectiveness and evaluates forearm fatigue and created topographic maps during a grasping task.

METHODS

Nine healthy adults with no recent arm injuries or illnesses participated in this study. They performed grasping tasks using their dominant hand, while bull's-eye electrodes recorded their muscle activity. To validate the effectiveness of the system, we calculated the root mean squares of muscle activity and entropy, an indicator of muscle activity distribution, and compared them over time.

RESULTS

The entropy analysis demonstrated a significant time-course effect with increased entropy over time, suggesting increased forearm muscle uniformity, which is possibly indicative of fatigue. Topographic maps visually displayed muscle activity, revealing notable intersubject variations.

DISCUSSION

Bull's-eye electrodes facilitated the capture of nine homogeneous muscle activity points, enabling the creation of topographic images. The entropy increased progressively, suggesting an adaptive muscle coordination response to fatigue. Despite some limitations, such as inadequate measurement of the forearm muscles' belly, the system is an unconventional measurement method.

CONCLUSION

This study established a robust system for wide-area multipoint sEMG measurements using a bull's-eye electrode setup. This system effectively evaluates muscle fatigue and provides a comprehensive topographic view of muscle activity. These results mark a significant step towards developing a future multichannel sEMG system with enhanced measurement points and improved wearability.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Chiba University Graduate School of Engineering (acceptance number: R4-12, Acceptance date: November 04, 2022).