EVALUATING HANDGRIP STRENGTH AS A MARKER OF MUSCULAR FITNESS AND BODY COMPOSITION IN STUDENTS

Handgrip strength is widely recognized as an indicator of overall muscle function and health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and handgrip strength in a representative sample of university students. Fifty students (balan-ced by sex and study level) from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education voluntarily participated. Participants underwent anthropometric and body composition assessment, followed by maximal isometric handgrip strength testing of the dominant and non-dominant hand using a handheld dynamometer. The average maximal handgrip strength of the dominant hand was ~410N, while the non-dominant hand averaged ~385N. Male students demonstrated significantly higher grip strength values compared to females, and students regularly engaged in sports activities showed greater handgrip performan-ce. Preliminary correlation analyses revealed a positive relationship between muscle mass and handgrip strength, and a negative association with body fat percentage. These findings emphasize the relevance of handgrip strength as a practical and reliable measu-re of muscular fitness and body composition in young adults. Future research with lar-ger, sex-stratified samples is recommended to validate these observations and better understand the role of physical activity and hand dominance.