You might not believe it, but a simple test can indicate how your health is and how much longer you might live.
You might not believe it, but according to a study published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging in 2019, a handgrip strength test can reveal how much longer someone might live.
To assess your handgrip strength, simply find a horizontal bar, whether in a park, gym, or even at home, and time how long you can hang from it. According to the study, 30 seconds is a good target for women and 60 seconds is an excellent target for men.
Greater handgrip strength is associated with lower rates of heart and respiratory diseases, cancer, and reduced mortality from all causes. For this reason, a group of experts suggested that it could be considered a measure of an individual’s overall health.
This means that if you can hang from the bar longer than the target, your health is good and you may have a long life ahead. However, if you can’t reach the target, your life might be shorter than you would like.
According to Dr. Peter Attia, author, Canadian-American physician, and longevity researcher, handgrip strength is a great way to determine a person’s overall health.
In an interview on the “The Drive” podcast, he explained how a simple test can measure a person’s overall body strength and muscle mass: “Basically, everything in the upper part of your body is mediated by your hands. If your grip is weak, everything below that is weak too.”
According to Luke Baumgartner, exercise testing specialist at the University of Memphis, handgrip strength is not only important for many daily tasks, such as opening jars and carrying groceries, but it is also a good indicator of your overall strength.
Baumgartner emphasized to the New York Times the importance of staying fit: “As you train and improve the rest of your muscle fitness, handgrip strength should improve along with it.”
If you want to perform the test, all you need is a horizontal bar and a stopwatch. Use a secure bar, preferably one that you can reach while standing on your toes.
Keep your arms straight and relaxed, grip firmly, breathe calmly, and time how long you can stay hanging.
For men, 0 to 30 seconds is considered beginner level. 30 to 60 seconds is considered intermediate, and over 60 seconds is advanced. For women, 0 to 20 seconds is beginner, up to 40 seconds is intermediate, and over 40 seconds is advanced.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.