Is the handgrip pressure influenced by the same factors in typical children and adolescents and those with spina bifida?

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing handgrip pressure (HGP) in typical children and adolescents and those with spina bifida (SB).

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 126 typical participants and 58 with SB, aged 8-16 years, categorized into subgroups: typical children (typical prepubertal; n = 20), typical adolescents (typical pubertal and post-pubertal; n = 106), SB children (SB prepubertal; n = 11), and SB adolescents (SB pubertal and post-pubertal; n = 47). Data on sex, height (or wingspan), lean and fat body mass, and levels of physical activity and spinal cord injury were collected. Participants performed three maximal voluntary isometric contractions of HGP using a bulb dynamometer. Multiple linear regression analyses examined the relationship between variables and HGP.

Results: In typical children, decreases in height, fat and lean body mass were associated with decreased HGP. In typical adolescents, females exhibited higher HGP than males, and increases in lean body mass and height were positively associated with HGP; and sedentary individuals exhibited higher HGP compared to active counterparts. In SB adolescents, increases in fat and lean body mass were associated with higher HGP, and greater physical activity was associated with stronger HGP. Participants with sacral injury level showed higher HGP than those with thoracic injury level. No association was observed for SB children.

Conclusion: Except for SB children, various factors, mainly the lean body mass, significantly influenced the HGP in all groups. When the outcome is HGP, it is important to monitor body composition and physical activity in typical children and adolescents and those with SB.