Fuerza prensil en el contexto de la salud: un análisis bibliométrico

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications that address grip strength as a primary or secondary variable in health-related research. Method: A search was conducted in Scopus, selected for its extensive coverage of high-quality scientific publications. With coverage limited to the period between 2014 and 2024, the records were analyzed using VantagePoint software (Search Technology, 9.0) to obtain activity indicators (year of publication, frequency, countries, institutions) and relationship indicators (co-authorship between countries, institutions, and authors). The search strategy was onstructed based on descriptors related to the central theme of the study. English terms such as “handgrip strength” and “grip strength” were used in combination with health terms such as ‘health’ and “disease,” among others, using Boolean operators to refine the search. Results: Of a total of 162 articles included, a predominance of research linking grip strength to the prediction of frailty, risk of falls, healthy aging, and mortality was identified. Its usefulness in assessing functional status and in the early detection of various chronic diseases was also evident. However, the studies showed marked heterogeneity in measurement protocols and limited application in clinical practice, which makes it difficult to compare results and implement them routinely. Conclusion: It is concluded that the scientific literature promotes the importance of Grip Strength as an accessible, reliable, and inexpensive marker of health, but also points to the need to seek its standardization and greater applicability.