Reference Values of Handgrip and Lower Extremity Strength for Vietnamese Men and Women: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study

Abstract

Background: Falls and sarcopenia are significant public health issues in Vietnam. Despite muscle strength being a critical predictor for these conditions, reference data on muscle strength within the Vietnamese population are lacking.

Purpose: To establish the reference ranges for muscle strength among Vietnamese individuals.

Methods: The study involved 4096 individuals, including 1419 men and 2677 women aged 18 years and above, from the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study. Muscle strength was assessed using a Baseline hand dynamometer for handgrip strength and a Back-Leg-Chest dynamometer for leg strength. We calculated mean values, standard deviations, interquartile ranges, and peak muscle strength (pMS) for both handgrip and leg strength across various ages. Reference curves were created with the Generalised Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape, and polynomial regression models were employed to analyse the relationship between muscle strength and age.

Results: Advancing age was significantly associated with lower muscle strength. Peak muscle strength typically occurred between ages 30 and 40, with earlier peaks in women, especially in leg strength. Men consistently showed higher muscle strength than women, with variations depending on the measurement site. Specifically, average handgrip strength was 36.4 kg ± 8.4 (mean ± SD) for men and 23.2 kg ± 6.0 for women (p < 0.001). Leg strength averaged 63.9 kg ± 27.2 for men and 29.5 kg ± 13.9 for women (p < 0.001). Additionally, we produced a percentile chart illustrating muscle weakness ranges based on the 25th percentile of muscle strength and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) for the Vietnamese population.

Conclusion: These data provide reference ranges for evaluating muscle strength in the Vietnamese population, offering crucial insights for identifying individuals at risk of falls or sarcopenia in clinical settings.

Keywords: Vietnam Osteoporosis Study; handgrip strength; lower extremity strength; muscle strength; reference values.