Handgrip strength may come in handy when trying to twist open a pasta sauce jar, but pinch strength refers to how apt we are at squeezing the tips of the thumb and index finger together to lift and hold small objects (per “The Muscle Test Handbook” via Science Direct). Handgrip strength is measured using a device called a “dynamometer,” while pinch strength is determined using a pinch meter.
Research indicates that the relationship between mortality and handgrip strength and/or pinch strength may be partially related to bone mineral density. Poor handgrip strength is often associated with low bone mineral density, which has been shown to increase the risk of frailty, hospitalization, and bone fractures in older adults (which can take longer to heal as we age), according to 2019 research published in Clinical Interventions in Aging. Furthermore, those with poor handgrip strength may also be lacking in vital micronutrients essential to our overall health, such as vitamin D (per Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine). However, giving our fingers a regular workout in order to prevent low handgrip and pinch strength may help us live longer.