Relationship Between Lumbar Radiculopathy and Hand Grip Strength in Young Adults of Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Lumbar Radiculopathy is a widespread global concern, impacting about 70% of individuals at some point in their lives. Muscle weakness is a common contributor to Lumbar radiculopathy, and hand grip strength is a widely recognized measure of overall muscle health. This study seeks to explore the correlation between hand grip strength and varying intensities of Lumbar radiculopathy. Objective: To determine the association between hand grip strength and the severity of lumbar radiculopathy among adults aged 18–40 years diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy in tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar. Methodology: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted following ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board, over a six-month duration, using a non-probability convenience sampling. Written informed consent was secured in both English and Urdu. Participants were assured that their involvement was entirely voluntary and that they had the right to withdraw from the study at any stage without facing any repercussions. About 675 males and females aged 18 to 40 years, diagnosed with lumbar radiculopathy, with a minimum duration of three months, were considered eligible. Individuals having multiple sclerosis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, recent injuries, surgeries, or amputations were excluded. For participants based on the 50th percentile, the groups were then divided into strong hand and weak hand grip strength. Pain intensity was evaluated using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and grip strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer. Demographic and clinical characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, whereas continuous variables were expressed as means with standard deviations. Associations between categorical variables were examined using the chi-square test, and statistical significance was defined at a p-value below 0.05. Result: The mean age of participants was 31(7.13) years; Pearson’s correlation coefficient (0.239) showed no significant association between Lumbar radiculopathy and hand grip strength. Conclusion: This study reported that no significant association was found between lumbar radiculopathy and hand grip strength among young adults.