Table 1.
Mean, standard error (SE), and percentile distribution of grip strength (pound) in U.S. children and adults by sex and age group, 2011–12.*
| Sex | Age group (y) | n | Mean (SE) | 20th (SE) | 40th (SE) | 50th (SE) | 60th (SE) | 80th (SE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 6–8 | 332 | 55.1 (1.1) | 43.9 (0.8) | 49.2 (1.4) | 53.2 (1.4) | 56.41 (1.7) | 67.6 (1.6) |
| 9–11 | 282 | 82.3 (1.3) | 65.8 (1.8) | 76.8 (1.5) | 81.0 (1.3) | 84.0 (1.2) | 95.3 (2.5) | |
| 12–15 | 303 | 138.2 (3.6) | 99.2 (3.4) | 124.2 (6.1) | 138.9 (5.0) | 147.1 (3.9) | 170.9 (3.6) | |
| 16–19 | 290 | 187.7 (3.0) | 163.9 (3.5) | 180.3 (3.4) | 187.9 (3.3) | 194.3 (3.2) | 209.7 (2.4) | |
| 20–29 | 454 | 210.2 (2.7) | 178.2 (4.1) | 200.4 (3.1) | 208.1 (2.4) | 218.0 (3.9) | 241.4 (3.9) | |
| 30–39 | 411 | 216.4 (1.8) | 184.7 (2.5) | 209.5 (2.1) | 216.1 (1.8) | 224.6 (3.0) | 245.3 (3.1) | |
| 40–49 | 378 | 206.7 (2.7) | 180.0 (2.5) | 198.2 (3.1) | 207.6 (2.9) | 212.4 (3.1) | 234.4 (3.3) | |
| 50–59 | 372 | 194.0 (4.2) | 161.9 (5.9) | 188.1 (3.7) | 195.0 (3.5) | 203.3 (3.6) | 220.2 (4.7) | |
| 60–69 | 373 | 181.7 (4.2) | 152.2 (5.6) | 176.5 (5.1) | 184.9 (3.6) | 191.6 (2.8) | 206.0 (5.2) | |
| 70 and above | 302 | 153.9 (1.8) | 128.7 (3.4) | 146.0 (2.7) | 155.5 (2.2) | 162.1 (2.8) | 178.1 (2.8) | |
| Females | 6–8 | 281 | 50.4 (0.9) | 39.9 (1.0) | 45.6 (1.0) | 48.6 (1.1) | 51.4 (0.9) | 59.7 (1.4) |
| 9–11 | 301 | 78.2 (1.2) | 61.9 (1.4) | 71.5 (1.6) | 75.8 (1.1) | 81.0 (1.5) | 93.9 (2.0) | |
| 12–15 | 292 | 112.2 (1.8) | 95.7 (1.4) | 105.1 (2.1) | 109.3 (1.7) | 114.2 (2.9) | 128.5 (3.1) | |
| 16–19 | 285 | 124.7 (2.2) | 107.8 (2.5) | 117.5 (2.4) | 122.5 (2.2) | 126.6 (2.3) | 141.7 (4.9) | |
| 20–29 | 412 | 131.8 (1.1) | 112.7 (1.2) | 125.9 (1.3) | 130.3 (1.2) | 135.8 (1.1) | 148.4 (1.1) | |
| 30–39 | 382 | 136.5 (1.4) | 117.9 (1.5) | 128.8 (2.1) | 135.8 (1.7) | 139.6 (1.5) | 154.2 (1.9) | |
| 40–49 | 392 | 132.9 (1.4) | 114.5 (2.2) | 125.2 (1.8) | 132.9 (1.5) | 138.1 (2.0) | 154.1 (2.6) | |
| 50–59 | 401 | 123.4 (1.5) | 106.9 (2.0) | 117.7 (1.8) | 121.5 (2.0) | 128.0 (2.4) | 141.7 (2.2) | |
| 60–69 | 354 | 116.3 (1.3) | 100.3 (2.6) | 114.0 (1.8) | 117.1 (1.3) | 119.7 (1.5) | 131.2 (1.9) | |
| 70 and above | 300 | 95.0 (1.4) | 76.7 (1.8) | 88.4 (1.7) | 93.0 (1.9) | 100.2 (2.4) | 113.7 (1.5) |
*
Maximal contraction on each hand (over 3 trials each) was summed to yield combined grip strength (pound) used to identify the age- and sex-appropriate quintile and median. Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.