TMSS Medical College Journal

Background: Handgrip strength is used as an indicator of overall physical strength. On the other hand, Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple and convenient method to measure someone’s physical status. Therefore, BMI may affect the handgrip strength and very few studies especially in Bangladesh have shown the correlation of BMI with handgrip strength. Objective: The aim of present research was to test the correlation between the handgrip strength and BMI of adult healthy females of the slum area in Dhaka city. Materials and Methods: In the present research, 100 adult females aged between 18 to 45 years, residing in different slums in Dhaka city of Bangladesh were the participants. BMI was calculated from participant’s height and weight. The dominant handgrip strength was measured using a digital handgrip dynamometer. The associations of the dominant handgrip strength with the height, weight and BMI were tested using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. Results: The Correlation coefficient of the dominant handgrip strength (DHGS) with the height (r= 0.400) and weight (r = 0.412) of 100 Bangladeshi slum females reach up to positive and strong significant level (< 0.01). There is also a positive and significant correlation (< 0.05) with the dominant handgrip strength with BMI (r= 0.303). Conclusion: The finding of present research support that, the dominant handgrip strength was positively associated with BMI of slum females.

Handgrip strength is usually used to assess the overall general strength of the body to determine the working capacity and nutritional status.! The power of hand grip is result of forceful flexion of all finger joints with the ‘maximum voluntary force’ that the subject is able to ‘exert under normal biokinetic conditions’, which uses several muscles in hand and forearm.> Moreover, the integrity and proper fitness of the musculoskeletal system of the upper limb, important issue to carry out daily activities and hand gripping strength.> BMI (Body Mass Index) is an important index to measure someone’s nutritional status and the handgrip strength is a good predictor of an individual’s nutritional status. In addition, it is established that the handgrip strength is strongly related to height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity.* Smith et al’ have found a direct correlation in handgrip strength and overall body strength upon very old and oldest females. It is reported that handgrip strength is also important in determining the efficacy of different treatment strategies of hand and hand rehabilitation.* According to a report from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), labor force participation for women is 36% in compared to 82.5% for men. However, the size of female labor force increased 4.6%, while male labor force increased by 1%.° Now besides the male, the females also give the big hand to support their family economically. Thus, female laborer is a great source of working manpower of Bangladesh in many industries, construction works, field works and even in household works. For their low economic condition they live in slum area of Dhaka city. Here, they are suffering for unhealthy living condition in every phase of their life. Maximum slum females have no education and they do various type of work according to her capability. They work in garments, industries, construction sites, cook in hotels, as a housemaid in various house. In addition, they work for long hours from morning to evening and besides the outside jobs they have to do all the household works too. Some of the family is run by the female’s income. But still, they are not aware of their health issues. Moreover, some of the female's nutritional status is below average, they do not take balance diet as daily requirement. Thus, their health issucs ar often neglected. The poor nutritional status and week physical condition as the main reason of high rate of daily absence in work. However, wellbeing and proper fitness of musculoskeletal system is one of the important factors to carryout daily activities' and laborers require more physical strength to perform their daily work efficiently. Thus, without adequate handgrip and forearm strength, the works do not meet its desired success. Since, females of the slum areas in Dhaka city are the important source of work force in Bangladesh. But there are few researches in Bangladesh, which enrolled among the slum females. Therefore, this research was initiated to test the hypothesis that there is a correlation between the handgrip strength and BMI of adult healthy females of the slum area in Dhaka city.