Abstract: Objective: To understand the distribution of handgrip strength of 8~80 years of general population in Han population in Shaanxi province, to provide evidence of general population reference of grip strength. Methods: Data was collected by questionnaire and Jamar dynamometer in Shaanxi Province (Xi'an City, Hanzhong City, Hu County, and Qishan County) between June to July in 2014. The value of grip strength was for sex-age description. Results: Except 12~13 years (P=0.07), grip strength of men was larger than that of women in each age group (P<0.05). Men showed a rapid rise in childhood of grip strength, kept stable in adulthood, and then gradually declined like the parabolic. Women showed a gradually increasing of grip strength at first, and then declined smoothly. In men, the means of grip peaked at 20~29 years (41 kg), remained to 30~39 years, and declined after 40~49 years. In women, the means of grip peaked at 30~39 years (24 kg), remained to 40~49 years, and declined after 50~59 years. Conclusion: Grip strength of men was almost larger than that of women in each age group of 8~80 years of general population in Han population in Shaanxi province. By age increasing, there was a trend of increasing at first and declining subsequently.

Key words: Han nationality, general population, hand strength