Handgrip Strength and Activities of Daily Living in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Age-related decline in musculoskeletal and neuromuscular function contributes to reduced functional independence among older adults. Grip strength is a simple and objective indicator of muscle strength and functional performance in the elderly population.
Objective: To determine the association between grip strength and activities of daily living (ADL) among community-dwelling older adults in Bali.
Methods: This analytical observational study used a cross-sectional design conducted in March 2026. A total of 104 older adults aged 60–80 years were recruited using purposive sampling. Grip strength was measured using a calibrated digital handgrip dynamometer following the American Society of Hand Therapists protocol, while ADL performance was assessed using the Barthel Index. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation test (p<0.05). Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University (No. 0998/UN14.2.2.VII.14/LT/2026).
Results: The mean age of participants was 69.83±5.57 years, and 66.3% were female. The mean grip strength was 16.91±7.27 kg, while 74.0% of participants had weak grip strength. Moderate ADL dependency was identified in 40.4% of participants. Grip strength showed a significant positive association with ADL performance (r=0.536; 95% CI: 0.38–0.66; p<0.001), indicating a moderate correlation.
Conclusion: Higher grip strength was associated with better ADL performance among community-dwelling older adults. Grip strength assessment may support early identification of older adults at risk of reduced functional independence.