Grip strength might not just be important for opening that stubborn jar of sauce or fermented veggies. Surprisingly, it might also predict your longevity. Here’s why and how you can improve yours!

How Grip Strength Predicts Longevity

Grip strength is actually a great indicator of whole-body strength. It shows your frailty and even your immune strength (or ability to ward off illness). Research further states that grip strength is associated with “all-cause and disease-specific mortality, future function, bone mineral density, fractures, cognition and depression, and problems associated with hospitalisation.”

It is also a biomarker of a person’s biological age, which refers to how old certain testing shows you are versus your actual chronological age.

Unfortunately, for most of us, grip strength tends to decline after the age of 50. But this doesn’t mean we’re all resigned to poor grip strength after this milestone birthday. In fact, experts suggest a healthy diet, strength training, and even aerobic exercise might help combat these age-related changes. But what else can you do?

How to Improve Grip Strength

Here are a few ways to combat age-related changes and improve this longevity predictor:

• Practice racquet sports regularly.
• Perform dead hangs regularly. This is where you simply hang from a pull-up bar for 30-60 seconds. (Bonus: This can also help decompress your spine!)
• Strength training regularly. Holding weights will help improve your overall body strength and prevent age-related muscle mass while also enhancing your grip strength.
• Try handgrip strengthening exercises. This will also help you lift more weight at the gym since you can hold more.

Other ways to enhance your aging and slow down time is by taking good care of your spine and nervous system, and chiropractic care is an excellent way to do this. If you’re interested, book your FREE discovery call with your local Finsbury Park chiropractor! BOOK NOW.