Fitness trends come and go with the seasons alongside the latest fashions. Some fitness trends — running marathons and glute pumps on the stairmaster — stick around for a while like Adidas Sambas. And some are fleeting, forgotten about and never served a purpose (who remembers those shake weights?!)
But there seems to be a new fitness trend and it could be here to stay as it can be a key marker of how healthy we are: and that is grip strength.
Why should we care about grip strength?
Grip strength has historically been overlooked as a key marker for measuring health and fitness, Strength and conditioning coach and Lifting Club Ambassador at Gymshark, Samantha Cubbins explains, but it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.
“In the past few years, fitness conversations have shifted more toward a more holistic view, focused on longevity, which grip strength is a key marker of,” she says.
Recent research has shown that better grip strength can be an indicator of your health and thus, how long you’ll live.
“Grip strength can reveal the activity levels of a person and risk of fragility, among others,” she explains. “A study of 140,000 adults found that weak grip strength could indicate higher risk of heart attack and stroke, and overall reduced muscular strength.”
It makes sense — grip is vital for everyday life — it impacts how we carry groceries home, how we open jars, typing on a keyboard, lifting babies and so on. And if you have a good grip strength then you can live more independently, which is vital for ageing healthily.
How to improve your grip strength
Thankfully, you can improve your grip strength. Cubbins says: “If you only had time to implement one simple habit for the next six months, I would recommend practising wringing a towel twice a day, perhaps just after you brush your teeth.
“For this exercise, roll a hand towel tightly and with each hand at different ends of the towel, twist your hands back and forth for about five seconds each way. Aim for 15 reps each time, and see how your grip strength improves.”
Will improving your grip strength help prolong life?
But while grip strength can be an indicator of health, it isn’t the be-all or end-all. There is a correlation between good grip strength and overall health because it shows how strong your muscles and nerves are (among other things).
But to improve your longevity in the long run, you need to follow other health practices too such as eating a well rounded diet and exercising more generally too. It’s boring but science has shown us time and time again that those classic principles will give you results!
