The Key to Longevity: Grip Strength

[odanny]

There was a study in 2015 that found grip strength was a better indicator of longevity than blood pressure. Pretty amazing.

You don't need a gym, you don't even need weights, just find something that will support your weight and start doing free hangs for as long as you can. Eventually move your way up to chin ups. Then you start adding weight lifting to the mix. This will increase your grip strength. Free hangs, active hangs, pushups, chin-ups, and other body weight exercises are an excellent start.

Is Your Grip Strength More Important Than Your Blood Pressure? | Certified Functional Strength Coach

A number of studies have come out recently showing that grip strength is a dependable predictor of overall health

www.certifiedfsc.com

Grip strength: The test for your chances of living to 100

Grip strength is associated with a range of health outcomes, from type 2 diabetes to depression. Here’s how to check yours.

www.bbc.com

Midlife muscle strength and human longevity up to age 100 years: a 44-year prospective study among a decedent cohort - PubMed

We studied prospectively the midlife handgrip strength, living habits, and parents' longevity as predictors of length of life up to becoming a centenarian. The participants were 2,239 men from the Honolulu Heart Program/Honolulu-Asia Aging Study who were born before the end of June 1909 and who...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Harry Dresden]

i saw a guy crush an apple .....that was pretty good grip strength....

 

[Dogmaphobe]

i saw a guy crush an apple .....that was pretty good grip strength....

I had a girlfriend once who could do that.






....except she wasn't using her hands.

 

[Harry Dresden]

I had a girlfriend once who could do that.






....except she wasn't using her hands.

what was she using?....

 

[luiza]

what was she using?....

Him .
Smashed his head onto the apple which he had dropped on the floor .

 

[braalian]

I can close the 250lb Heavy Grip

And can close the 200lb for 12 reps

I’m sure I’ll be able to close the 300lb soon

From their website:

HG 100 “Beginner” – At the first squeeze, the HG100 may not seem to be much tougher than a store-bought plastic hand-gripper, but it’s smooth action and aggressive knurled grip can be deceiving. The “Beginner” is perfect for consumers beginning their ‘grip training’ as well as younger athletes, female athletes, athletes with small hands and warm-ups for stronger athletes.

HG 150 “Intermediate” – Consumers that have a fairly strong grip can usually squeeze out a few reps with the HG150, but it can be difficult for females and younger athletes although those athletes can easily work up to the HG150 in a short time with consistent training. Most athletes with consistent HG training will find that the HG150 only provides resistance for 3 to 15 reps for 2 to 6 weeks and they are ready to step up to the HG200 or beyond because the hand responds so well to resistance training with low repetitions.

HG 200 “Advanced” -The HG200 is the level that even athletes with a naturally strong grip may have trouble closing. Athletes with advanced grip training will not have too much trouble with the HG200, but those with no grip training experience will most likely find it very difficult to close the HG200 at the beginning of their training. When you are closing the HG200 for reps, your performance for any sport using your hands will be greatly enhanced.

HG 250 “Professional”– When you are closing the HG250 for reps, you will have to be very careful when shaking people’s hand! If you can close the HG250 once, your hand strength is well beyond the average athlete. Usually only athletes with a hardcore grip training regimen and people who do heavy work with their hands can close the HG250 on their first attempt. Just because you have lifted weights for a few years, don’t assume that you will be able to close a HG250. It’s much harder than it looks!

HG 300 “The Gripper King” – Although there are well over 50 000 HG300’s on the market, we estimate that there are less than 500 athletes world-wide that can do reps with this hand grip although most male athletes (and there have been a few women) with an average-sized hand can build up their hand-strength to close a HG300 for at least one rep if they train regularly with the Heavygrips. The key to closing the HG300 is consistency with your hand-strength training and avoiding over-training (Don’t train with your HG’s more than twice per week or when your hand is still sore from your last work-out)

HG350 “The Grip Monster” – The newest addition to the Heavy Grip line-up! The HG 350 hit the market in 2007 at the request of athletes who complained that the HG300 was not tough enough! Although there have been some very strong athletes doing reps with the HG300, we haven’t had anyone tell us that the HG350 was too easy! If you can close the HG350, your hand strength is definitely ‘world-class’!

 

[MarathonMike]

i saw a guy crush an apple .....that was pretty good grip strength....

Depends on the size and condition of the apple.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Depends on the size and condition of the apple.

it was a fresh pippin....

 

[Twisted Gypsy Child]

I grip the pole when I dance

 

[MarathonMike]

I grip the pole when I dance

With your hands?

 

[Twisted Gypsy Child]

With your hands?

Pole dancing

 

[Dogmaphobe]

Pole dancing

You have a pole?


It must be one clever pole to be able to grip like that.

 

[Twisted Gypsy Child]

You have a pole?


It must be one clever pole to be able to grip like that.

the club has a pole

Pole Dancing

 

[MarathonMike]

Pole dancing

I've seen some girls hold on with their legs....back in the day.

 

[Woodznutz]

If you improve your grip strength through exercise it is no longer an indicator of longevity.

I have also read that if you can't get up from the floor using just your legs you aren't long for this world. I find that getting up is increasing difficult even when I hang onto something.

 

[odanny]

I've seen some girls hold on with their legs....back in the day.

Back in the day = last weekend.

If you improve your grip strength through exercise it is no longer an indicator of longevity.

I have also read that if you can't get up from the floor using just your legs you aren't long for this world. I find that getting up is increasing difficult even when I hang onto something.

You're right about getting up off the floor using just your legs, my legs are strong but I have some balance issues as a result of nerve damage from a tricky operation I had to have done, I point that out because not all things are equal when it comes to getting up just using your legs. I would normally have no problem.

Not so sure about improving grip strength thru exercise being a disqualifier, doing hangs and chin ups regularly (key word: regularly) has increased not only grip strength but upper body strength in general, and yes, that does increase your longevity.

 

[MarathonMike]

Back in the day = last weekend.

More like the 80s.

 

[MarathonMike]

If you improve your grip strength through exercise it is no longer an indicator of longevity.

I have also read that if you can't get up from the floor using just your legs you aren't long for this world. I find that getting up is increasing difficult even when I hang onto something.

I've picked up my 80 year old neighbor off of the ground 4 times. She refuses to go to assisted living and only wears her life alert when she feels like it. I'm really not looking forward to finding her dead.

 

[Unkotare]

... find something that will support your weight and start doing free hangs for as long as you can. Eventually move your way up to chin ups. Then you start adding weight lifting to the mix....

Or, wrestle for 50 years.

 

[MarathonMike]

Back in the day = last weekend.



You're right about getting up off the floor using just your legs, my legs are strong but I have some balance issues as a result of nerve damage from a tricky operation I had to have done, I point that out because not all things are equal when it comes to getting up just using your legs. I would normally have no problem.

Not so sure about improving grip strength thru exercise being a disqualifier, doing hangs and chin ups regularly (key word: regularly) has increased not only grip strength but upper body strength in general, and yes, that does increase your longevity.

Yes bar hangs, pull-ups, dips, push ups even on your knees all great for older people and easy to do. One minute leg balance on each leg is also very good to do. You don't need equipment.