Researchers examined more than 5,000 women aged 63 to 99 in a study published in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers measured hand grip strength and how quickly participants could stand up from a chair without assistance.
According to experts, the tests are not only about muscle strength. They also reflect balance, coordination, and the body’s overall physical functioning.
Physical therapist Rachel Prusynski told Prevention that muscles naturally weaken with age, making it increasingly important to stay physically active.
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More than exercise
The researchers emphasized that strength is not the only factor affecting health. Sleep, diet, stress, and mental health also play major roles.
Chiropractor Anna Di also told Prevention that the study did not include every population group. As a result, the findings may not apply equally to everyone.
The study also does not prove that strength directly leads to a longer life. It only shows a clear association between physical strength and the risk of early death.
Lower risk
After nearly eight years of follow-up, women with the best test results had lower mortality rates than the rest of the participants.
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According to the study, the risk of death decreased by 12 percent for every additional seven kilograms of grip strength. Faster chair-rise test results were also linked to a lower risk.
Experts believe that simple strength exercises may play an important role in maintaining good health, even for people who do not exercise frequently.
Sources: Prevention and JAMA Network Open.
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