Prediction of Hand Grip Strength among Elderly Farmers of Odisha in India

Abstract In this study, measurements of 38 anthropometrical dimensions together with hand grip strength of male farmers aged between 55 years and above of Odisha in India is carried out. The standard deviation (SD), mean, 5th and 95th percentile values of the 38 body dimensions are evaluated and the data are analysed by correlation analysis. Very high correlation coefficient is found between stature in standing, hand length, eye height in standing, weight, acromion in standing and the hand grip strength while lower correlation coefficient is found in between cervical in standing, height in sitting and the hand grip strength. The correlation coefficients of 18 dimensions out of 22 measured dimensions are found significant with the hand grip strength. The obtained non-significant dimensions with respect to hand grip strength are shoulder blade in sitting, hand grip length, fingertip depth and fingertip breadth. Linear regression is used to forecast the value of hand grip strength as dependent variable and other 14 significant body dimensions as independent variables with correlativity greater than 0.5. Further the obtained regression model is validated successfully using the standard error of estimate (SEE).