Relationship between subjective motor ability and physical function in young people

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective motor ability and actual physical function. Participants included 56 university students (34 young men and 22 young women). Gait speed and grip strength were assessed subjectively, and physical function was compared between two groups: one with a subjective fast gait speed and the other with subjective slow gait speed, and between two groups with subjective strong grip strength and subjective weak grip strength, categorized by gender. On comparing the two groups based on subjective gait speed, no significant differences were found between men and women. However, when comparing the two groups based on subjective grip strength, significant differences were observed in actual grip strength (men: p<0.001, women: p=0.003) and quadriceps muscle strength (men: p=0.008, women: p=0.004) for both genders. The group with stronger subjective grip strength exhibited higher values for both measures. This suggests that subjective grip strength can serve as an indicator of actual grip strength and lower limb muscle strength in young people.