{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,21]],"date-time":"2026-09-21T20:02:32Z","timestamp":1790020952884,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,6]],"date-time":"2020-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1588723200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a convent measure of strength capacity and associated with several age-related health conditions such as functional disability. Asymmetric strength between limbs has been linked to diminished function. Therefore, both HGS asymmetry and weakness could be associated with functional disability. We examined the associations of HGS asymmetry and weakness on functional limitations in a nationally representative sample of older Americans. Methods: Data were analyzed from 2689 adults \u2265 60 years who participated in the 2011\u20132012 and 2013\u20132014 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weakness was defined as HGS &lt; 26 kg for men and &lt; 16 kg for women. Asymmetry was determined from the ratio of the dominant and non-dominant HGS. Those with HGS ratio 0.9\u20131.1 were considered as having HGS symmetry, and those outside this range had asymmetry. Results: Compared to those with symmetric HGS and were not weak, those with weakness alone, and both weakness and HGS asymmetry had 2.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14\u20135.35) and 3.93 (CI: 1.18\u201313.07) greater odds for functional limitations, respectively. However, HGS asymmetry alone was not associated with functional limitations (odds ratio: 0.80; CI: 0.62\u20131.03). Conclusion: The use of HGS asymmetry in protocols could improve the prognostic value of handgrip dynamometers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17093231","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,7]],"date-time":"2020-05-07T03:10:38Z","timestamp":1588821038000},"page":"3231","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":31,"title":["Handgrip Strength Asymmetry and Weakness Are Differentially Associated with Functional Limitations in Older Americans"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Kyle","family":"Collins","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nathaniel","family":"Johnson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lukus","family":"Klawitter","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roman","family":"Waldera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2555-390X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sherri","family":"Stastny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"William J.","family":"Kraemer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bryan","family":"Christensen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ryan","family":"McGrath","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"882","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6732a3","article-title":"Prevalence of disabilities and health care access by disability status and type among adults\u2014United States, 2016","volume":"67","author":"Okoro","year":"2018","journal-title":"Morb. 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