Regulatory classifications of handgrip strength in children and adolescents living in a moderate altitude region of Peru.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of Hand Grip Strenght (HGS) is relevant for the early detection of muscle weakness. It can be applied as an indicator for monitoring physical performance and early identification of reduce muscle strenght. OBJECTIVE: (a) to compare hand grip strength (HGS) with other regional studies and (b) to propose regulatory classifications of HGS by age, sex in children and adolescents living in a moderate altitude region of Peru. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was designed in school children and adolescents living in a moderate altitude region of Peru (2320 m above sea level). The sample selection was non-probabilistic (accidental), considering 1058 schoolchildren (557 boys and 501 girls) with an age range of 6 to 17 years. These schoolchildren came from public schools. Weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) were assessed. HGS of both hands (right, left and both hands) was evaluated. The p50th percentile was used to compare discrepancies with studies from Chile, Colombia and Peru. RESULTS: The median values (p50) of both hands show a linear increase with advancing age. It is expected that HGS tends to increase as children get older. The maximum HGS of both hands occurred in males at 17 years of age (38.87 kg/f). While in females it was at 15-16 years (23.56 kg/f). Discrepancies in HGS were observed when comparing the 50th percentile (P50) of schoolchildren living at moderate altitude in Peru with regional studies carried out in Chile, Colombia and Peru. HGS percentiles by age and sex were developed for the left, right and both hands (P3, P5, P15, P25, P50, P75, P85, P90, P95 and P97). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated discrepancies in HGS between schoolchildren living in a moderate altitude region of Peru and neighboring regions. This allowed us to propose percentiles to evaluate HGS by age and sex. The results suggest its use in educational and clinical contexts.