Handgrip Strength Linked to Muscular and Respiratory Function in Cystic Fibrosis: Study
USA: Researchers have found in a new study that among people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inspiratory muscle strength and percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVCpp). This suggests HGS may serve as a practical adjunct to standard lung function tests.
The findings also identify resistance training as a modifiable intervention with potential benefits for both muscle strength and respiratory health in this population.
Cystic fibrosis is a multisystem genetic disorder marked by progressive pulmonary decline, reduced exercise capacity, and loss of lean body mass. While spirometry remains the cornerstone of respiratory assessment, there is growing interest in identifying simple, functional markers that may reflect broader physiological status. In this context, peripheral muscle strength—particularly handgrip strength—has emerged as a potential surrogate indicator of overall health and functional reserve.
In the present study, published in Respiratory Medicine, Taylor Lewis of Stanford University, Concordia University Chicago, and colleagues examined the relationship between peripheral muscle strength, lung function, and inspiratory muscle performance in adults with cystic fibrosis.
The cross-sectional analysis included 155 participants with a mean age in the mid-30s, nearly evenly split between males and females. All participants underwent handgrip strength testing and pulmonary function assessment, including forced vital capacity percent predicted (FVCpp) and forced expiratory volume in one second percent predicted (FEV1pp). A subset of 86 participants also completed maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) testing to evaluate inspiratory muscle strength.
Key Findings:
- Peak handgrip strength showed a significant positive association with percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVCpp), indicating that greater peripheral muscle strength was linked to better lung volume performance.
- No significant association was observed between handgrip strength and percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1pp), suggesting a weaker relationship with airflow limitation.
- In female participants, handgrip strength, body mass index, physical activity, and resistance training independently correlated with FVCpp.
- Physical activity was also significantly associated with FEV1pp in females.
- These associations were not observed in male participants, pointing to sex-specific differences in muscle–lung interactions.
- Among participants who underwent maximal inspiratory pressure testing, handgrip strength showed a moderate and significant correlation with inspiratory muscle strength.
- The association between handgrip strength and inspiratory muscle strength was stronger in males than in females.
The authors note that handgrip strength testing is inexpensive, noninvasive, and easy to perform in clinical settings. Its association with both inspiratory muscle strength and FVCpp supports its potential role as an adjunctive assessment tool alongside traditional pulmonary function tests. Importantly, the findings also point to resistance training as a modifiable factor that may positively influence both muscular and respiratory outcomes in adults with cystic fibrosis, warranting further longitudinal and interventional research.
Reference: https://www.resmedjournal.com/article/S0954-6111(25)00687-0/abstract
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