TY - JOUR
T1 - Handgrip strength in autism spectrum disorder compared with controls
AU - Kern, Janet K.
AU - Geier, David A.
AU - Adams, James
AU - Troutman, Melissa R.
AU - Davis, Georgia A.
AU - King, Paul G.
AU - Geier, Mark R.
PY - 2013/8/1
Y1 - 2013/8/1
N2 - The study examined handgrip strength in participants diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared with neurotypical children. Thirty-three children, aged 2-17 years, with an ASD and 33 gender-, race-, and age-matched neurotypical controls were tested using a handgrip dynamometer. The handgrip strength in participants with an ASD was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than the neurotypical controls. The mean handgrip strength was 39.4 6 17.7 kPa in children with ASD and 65.1 ± 26.7 kPa in controls. The results support the hypothesis that children with an ASD have significantly poorer handgrip strength as compared with neurotypical children. Because the handheld dynamometer has been shown to be a valid tool for measuring overall muscle strength, the results suggest that children with ASD have muscle weakness. Future studies are needed to determine the extent of muscle weakness in ASD, its ramifications, and the possible benefits of muscle strengthening. The present study provides support for the use of handgrip strength as a tool for the assessment of targeted treatment in ASD.
AB - The study examined handgrip strength in participants diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared with neurotypical children. Thirty-three children, aged 2-17 years, with an ASD and 33 gender-, race-, and age-matched neurotypical controls were tested using a handgrip dynamometer. The handgrip strength in participants with an ASD was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than the neurotypical controls. The mean handgrip strength was 39.4 6 17.7 kPa in children with ASD and 65.1 ± 26.7 kPa in controls. The results support the hypothesis that children with an ASD have significantly poorer handgrip strength as compared with neurotypical children. Because the handheld dynamometer has been shown to be a valid tool for measuring overall muscle strength, the results suggest that children with ASD have muscle weakness. Future studies are needed to determine the extent of muscle weakness in ASD, its ramifications, and the possible benefits of muscle strengthening. The present study provides support for the use of handgrip strength as a tool for the assessment of targeted treatment in ASD.
KW - Handgrip dynamometer
KW - Muscle strength
KW - Physical condition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884564691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84884564691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827de068
DO - 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827de068
M3 - Article
C2 - 23880656
AN - SCOPUS:84884564691
SN - 1064-8011
VL - 27
SP - 2277
EP - 2281
JO - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
JF - Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
IS - 8
ER -