Toe Grip Strength is Another Indicator of Muscle Strength and Bone Mass in Older Men

Abstract

Toe grip strength (TGS) measures foot muscle strength and evaluates stability maintenance, as well as the risk of falls. Handgrip strength (HGS) is considered a simple and effective method for assessing overall strength, and it correlates with bone variables. The aim of this study was: first, to investigate the relationship between TGS and overall strength and bone variables; and second, to compare the relationships between TGS and HGS with overall strength and bone variables. This cross-sectional study included 59 Caucasian men aged 60 to 84 years. Participants underwent muscle strength testing using exercises such as the bench press, leg extension, leg curl, and biceps curl, along with assessments of HGS and TGS. Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). TGS was positively correlated with bench press performance (r = 0.68; p < 0.001), leg extension strength (r = 0.72; p < 0.001), leg curl strength (r = 0.83; p < 0.001), and biceps curl strength (r = 0.74; p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was also observed between TGS and HGS (r = 0.88; p < 0.001). Finally, both TGS and HGS showed significant positive correlations with bone mass (r = 0.62; p < 0.001 and r = 0.68; p < 0.001, for toe grip and handgrip respectively). In conclusion, this study suggests that TGS is as good as HGS as a positive determinant of muscle strength and bone mass in older men.