Handgrip strength and 1RM bench press performance: a novel approach to evaluate upper body maximal strength

Abstract

In the last few years, handgrip strength has been widely recognized as a relevant indicator of physical function, nutritional status and quality of life in a clinical population. However, the scientific literature is still lacking of knowledge regarding the use of this indicator within a general healthy and physically active population. The possibility to use the handgrip strength as an indicative value of some specific physical qualities, such as the upper body maximal strength (expressed in terms of 1RM bench press), can be considered an unexplored field and its development might represent a relevant support for the strength and conditioning professionals. Therefore, we hypothesize that a significant association might be found between handgrip strength, body composition and upper body maximal strength and that this association might be used as a specific “performance predictor”. Fifteen healthy subjects (8 men / 7 women; age 25.53 ± 7.14 yr;! body mass 65.58 ± 13.26 kg; height 167±10 cm) without habitual intensive exercise participated in this pilot intervention. Body composition, handgrip strength and maximal body upper strength were evaluated. Subjects’ body composition was estimated through a bioelectrical impedance analysis and resulted in a mean value of 22.12 ± 8.64% of fat and 77.81 ± 8.5%1 of lean mass. Handgrip (HG) strength was estimated for both dominant and not dominant side, respectively (39.27 ± 14.52 w; 37.59 ± 13.49 w) through the use of a handgrip dynamometer. Subjects’ upper body strength was tested using a bench press 1RM test with an already standardized protocol. Subjects’ maximal strength resulted in an average of 49.21 ± 23.87 kg. HG and 1RM testing were overseen by the same investigator and conducted with the same equipment. Each subject was instructed to refrain from any strenuous activities for 72 hours before testing d! ay. STATISTICA Software package© for Windows© was adopted wh en appropriate. Overall the findings showed a strong relation (Pearson’s r=0.77) between HG and 1RM bench press in both, male (0.41) and female (0.80) but a low association with Free Fat Mass. Unexpectedly, female have higher association than males. These preliminary results shown that the handgrip strength might be associated to the individual maximal strength performance and it might be considered as a valid predictor of upper body strength performance within a sport/fitness context, though the presented pilot intervention we cannot draw any conclusion on the topic, due to the limited sample analyzed.