Objetive

Assess whether grip strength and difficulty in carrying out daily activities could be predictors of falls and osteoporotic fractures.

Material and methods

624 men and women over 50 years of age were randomly selected and followed for 8 years to determine the incidence of falls and non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures. At the beginning, the grip strength in the hands was measured and a questionnaire was filled out with clinical variables, risk factors related to osteoporosis, and questions related to difficulty or inability to perform daily activities.

Results

Grip strength in the hands was not associated with the incidence of falls and fractures. However, the impossibility or difficulty of “sitting for more than 1 hour in a hard chair”, “taking off socks or stockings” and “leaning from a chair to pick up an object from the floor” were associated with falls: 1.83 (1.16-2.89); 1.85 (1.14-3.00) and 1.68 (1.04-2.70), respectively. Similarly, the impossibility or difficulty of “carrying a 10-kilogram object for 10 meters” and “lifting a box with 6 bottles and putting them on a table” was associated with fracture: 2.82 (1.21-6.59) and 2.54 (1.12-5.81) respectively.

Conclusions

No association was found between grip strength and incidence of falls and osteoporotic fractures, but it was found with difficulty or inability to perform daily activities. Those related to greater strength were associated with fracture, while those related to functional capacity were associated with falls. Taking simple questionnaires could help predict events before they happen.

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