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Dead Hangs for Longevity?

Updated: Mar 15

It turns out, your grip strength — the amount of force you have when you clench your hand around an object — is a huge indication of your overall health.


That’s right. Your grip strength is important for more than having a strong handshake and being able to open a pickle jar. Researchers call grip strength an “indispensable biomarker for older adults.” In other words, the strength you hold in your hands, wrists and forearms says a lot about how healthy you are. It’s also an indication of your risk for injury, mental health conditions and more.


“Grip strength naturally begins to decline around age 50, and maybe even earlier,” says geriatric medicine specialist Ardeshir Hashmi, MD. “People who maintain their grip strength age more slowly. They stay healthier longer and are stronger throughout their bodies.”

Building grip strength can also help avoid repetitive strain injuries like tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.


Other movements that can help increase grip strength beyond the dead hang?

  • Farmer’s walk with dumbbells or kettlebells

  • Reverse biceps curls

  • Pull Ups

  • Chin Ups

  • Deadlifts

So increasing your grip strength not only makes it easier to do daily tasks like opening a jar or carrying in your groceries, but it is also a predictor of your health status as you age - LONGEVITY!!!




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