Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 elderly participants (58 man and 52 woman) living in nursing homes in Kerman in 2014. Data were collected using functional disability standard questionnaire and Jamar Dynamometer so as to measure grip strengths of the elderly. Moreover, data were analyzed by statistical tests at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software.
Discussion: The measured grip strength of women was significantly lower than that of men (P< 0.05). The grip power of the women in the age group of 60 -70 yrs was approximately equal with the grip power of men in the age group of 90 -100. With age increase, grip strength would decline in both genders.
Result: There was a strong and direct correlation between functional ability and handgrip strength. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the increase in functional disability of the elderly and decline in their grip strength.