If you’ve ever taken one of my classes, you’ve probably heard it.
It happens right around the point where members are putting down their dumbbells and flexing their hands.
“If you want to live longer, you’ve got to grip stronger!”
At this point, Iv said it so many times, I just get the stares back.
“Yea coach, we know.”
But do you know what it means and why it’s important?
Grip Strength Makes You Age Slower
The first thing of note is that grip strength is inversely proportional to the age of your DNA. A recent study showed that men and women over the age of 50, regardless of income or other demographic factors, that tested with low hand grip strength also showed accelerated aging factors in their DNA. The study also found the inverse relationship, when a subject tested high on a grip strength test, they showed a deceleration in cellular aging.
Grip Strength Also Affects Healthspan
Having a strong grip isn’t just about being able to open the peanut butter jar. A lot of us want to be able into old age, not feeble. We strive for independence and the ability to do things on our own, even into our 90s. Grip Strength also affects your heart health, bone density, cognitive function, functional strength, and helps to prevent injury.
Your Heart and Your Hands
Studies have shown that your grip strength is a direct indicator to your heart health. In fact, how good your grip is, has proven to be a better measure of heart health than either blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Your Grip and Your Bones
Since grip strength is a direct indicator of overall strength, the studies have shown that an improved grip strength also is a direct indicator to your bone density. This is because the more muscle mass a person has, the denser their bones, in order to ensure their skeleton can support the additional muscle.
Your Grip and Your Brain
As we get older, physical frailty typically increases, this in turn causes us to withdraw and be less social. Since grip strength is a direct indicator of overall strength, it’s also important when it comes to cognitive function as we age as well. The more capable a person is, into old age, the less they withdraw and the sharper their mind stays.
Your Grip and Your Independence
Grip strength begins to weaken as we age. This makes doing things, like opening jars or even door knobs, harder and harder. By increasing your grip strength now, it can help ensure that you stay more capable and independent as you get older.
Your Grip Can Save Your Life
As we age we become more frail. This frailty becomes a big proponent of injury, and by consequence dependency, as we age. By having a stronger grip into our elder years we are more likely to be able to prevent injuries, such as falls, by grabbing hold of objects or even breaking our fall. This in turn allows us to stay stronger and more capable into our golden years.
So in short, your grip is a HUGE aspect to how you age. Having a stronger grip now does everything from slowing down your metabolic age, to increasing your independence into your golden years, and even making sure you stay sharp enough to beat all of your friends in a game of chess.
If you feel like your grip is weak and you’d like to make sure you’re still capable in old age, click the button below to get started at Tradewinds NOW, and let’s improve that grip strength and make sure you can open that jar of peanut butter when you’re 90.