Clinical Evidence

The science behind Able Assess.

Peer-reviewed research linking grip strength and functional health to falls, frailty, mortality and clinical outcomes. Every claim on this site is grounded in the evidence below.

Therapist conducting clinical assessment with patient

Grip strength and mortality

Grip strength predicts all-cause mortality more reliably than systolic blood pressure.

— Lancet, 2015

Published Studies

Prognostic value of grip strength: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study

· Lancet, 2015

Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: prospective cohort study

· BMJ, 2008

Grip strength as a predictor of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

· BMJ, 2018

Falls prevention and functional assessment

Multifactorial falls risk screening outperforms single-test approaches in predicting falls in older adults.

— International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2020

Published Studies

Effectiveness of multifactorial interventions in preventing falls among older adults in the community

· International Journal of Nursing Studies, 2020

Walking speed: the sixth vital sign

· Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2009

Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention

· NICE Guideline NG249, 2025

Grip strength in clinical populations

Low grip strength is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer mortality.

— European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2017

Published Studies

Grip strength and cardiovascular risk markers: a systematic review

· European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2017

Handgrip strength and health outcomes: Umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies

· Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2021

Changes in lean body mass with glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies and mitigation strategies

· Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2024

What we measure

Four validated metrics in one workflow

Grip strength

Upper-body strength proxy. Predicts all-cause mortality, frailty and hospitalization risk.

Sit-to-stand

Lower-limb power and balance. A key indicator of fall likelihood and functional decline.

Gait speed

The 'sixth vital sign' for older adults. Linked to rehospitalization, disability and mortality.

Timed Up and Go

Falls risk assessment in under a minute. Validated across home, community and clinical settings.

Talk to the clinical team about the evidence.

Our clinical team can walk you through the research and how it applies to your setting.

Free Guide

Grip Strength: The Essential Biomarker for Longevity

Download the full clinical summary — peer-reviewed evidence linking grip strength to biological age, mortality, frailty and chronic disease risk, with guidance on integrating grip testing into routine assessment.

ABLE CARE RESEARCH