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Many of the comments here seem to be focussing on increasing grip strength but that misses something the article could have delved into more. Grip strength is

by maxcan 10y ago

Many of the comments here seem to be focussing on increasing grip strength but that misses something the article could have delved into more. Grip strength is strongly correlated with health and longevity, but its not directly causal - simply increasing your grip strength wont really add many years to your life. Instead grip strength is strong correlate with overall musculo-skeletal mass and strength, which does have a highly causal relationship with health and longevity. So, focussing purely on grip strength will do more to break the correlation than give you a long life. If you want to have a healthy, long life focus on overall strength. Squats, deadlifts, odd-object carries etc. If you're new to lifting, have someone who isn't show you proper form. Or just read Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe. Its the bible of heavy lifts. Source: I can deadlift more than 3 times my bodyweight while still having a 7 min mile.

Hydraulix989 10y ago
That puts you in the most elite category for fitness (at least for strength): http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/DeadliftStandards.html http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/DeadliftStandards.... The bar is a lot higher for mile times, but 7 minute mile still is top ~25% of the American population, given we're all so sedentary.
- pyromine 10y ago
  That's absurd, I had surgery and couldn't do anything for 3 weeks, once finally cleared my second run I ran a 6:30 mile. How is it that as a society we've devalued physical health so strongly.
  - afarrell 10y ago
    There is a myth that physical ability is a trade-off against mental ability. You see this in the slogan "sleep is for the weak" and in the stereotype of the nerd as sedentary. It is a myth--the brain is a part of the body and by nurturing the body you support the brain.
    - bluebeard 10y ago
      To add to that, lifting heavy weights causes the central nervous system to fire off huge amount of electrical signals to muscle groups. While this does cause fatigue which can leave you feeling "hazy", I would not be surprised if it improved cognitive endurance for other tasks. And I have to comment on the irony of sleep being the most important factor in muscle recovery, along with a good diet.
    - rusk 10y ago
      I think this myth emerges from the high-school jock vs nerd archetypes. The HSJ spends his time training, chasing chicks and neglecting his studies, while the more studious get on with their school work. Of course in reality you have smart people that are all-star footballers and stupid people who study, but I guess the less nuanced picture still dominates people conscience. I guess particularly because the school years are most formative.
      - deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
    - katzgrau 10y ago
      I prefer to view it in reverse (and word it differently) - the body is an organ of the mind. But I would agree - the mind and body are powerfully complimentary.
    - gadders 10y ago
      Mens sana in corpore sano. You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body. Ask for a stout heart that has no fear of death, and deems length of days the least of Nature's gifts that can endure any kind of toil, that knows neither wrath nor desire and thinks the woes and hard labors of Hercules better than the loves and banquets and downy cushions of Sardanapalus. What I commend to you, you can give to yourself; For assuredly, the only road to a life of peace is virtue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sano
    - nvarsj 10y ago
      > It is a myth--the brain is a part of the body and by nurturing the body you support the brain. Is there any evidence backing this up? I hear it proclaimed a lot, but there are plenty of examples of brilliant people who are not physically strong, such as Stephen Hawking.
- sandworm101 10y ago
  Top 25% doesn't sound all that great given how many are totally incapable of running a mile in any time. I once looked up my swimming pace for a typical workout (15min x 5km). That's well within the top 0.1%. Navy SEALs dont swim that well. But given that probably less than 1% of the general population swim any laps regularly, it isnt saying much. Fyi, if you want to feel good about your swimming, lookup the youtube vids of the navy seals swimming standards. I know 12yo kids who could pass them. Their pace wouldnt even qualify for the 'fast' lane at my local lap pool (50m/minute).
  - defen 10y ago
    SEAL operators aren't selected for pure speed - they want the guy who is capable of swimming 20 miles after being awake for 48 hours, if that were to be necessary. There's a (high) baseline level of fitness, but more than that it's about insane willpower, esprit de corps, and ability to handle stressful situations.
    - sonthonax 10y ago
      Most of those who I know, who are in SF units can do a mile in under 6 minutes.
    - sandworm101 10y ago
      Ive had this discuss with drill a instructor. He asked, barring hypothermia, how far a competative swimmer could go before drowning. My estimate is something like 100km. Swimming slowly, say 0.5m/second, is easier than walking for such people. They would be dead of dehydration before they drown.
  - 3chelon 10y ago
    Your statement about 12 yo kids is an understatement - while I'm plodding along doing 50m every 45 sec (admittedly over a distance), the 12 year olds from my local club are leaving me standing. They're probably aiming towards 50m in around 30 sec. I'm sure the special forces guys are much bigger and heavier than that and as another commenter said, speed will not be their top priority.
martinko 10y ago
TL;DR: Do deadlifts.
- rusk 10y ago
  I'd love to, but my knees are banjaxed. Making do with leg press, bench and other compound exercises with heavy weights. If you can't squat, deadlift etc. for whatever reason just lifting heavy weights (free weights if at all possible) is the next best thing.
  - jat850 10y ago
    OT but I'd never come across the term "banjaxed" before. Thank you for introducing this to my vocabulary. I can't wait for my first meeting of the day today!
  - jschwartzi 10y ago
    try straight-leg deadlifts. As a bonus they're a great hamstring stretch.
  - omginternets 10y ago
    Deadlifting with proper form should not tax your knees. It's certainly gentler than a leg-press...
    - rusk 10y ago
      Deadlifting maybe now that I think of it would in theory be okay, but my physio has me on a course of isolation exercises and has advised against complex compound movements because we're trying to correct muscle activation patterns. Leg press isnt ideal but it's a good way to develop the glutes without introducing too much lateral force. My particular issue is a badly eroded knee-cap which tends to float about a bit. The specialist I've seen has described it as advanced arthritis but I'm fairly sure it's not - just the effect of years of road running with poor form and injury. Going by the MRI scan it's about half the size it should be. Not a question of 'if' I need a knee replacement but when ... Anyway, no more running for me, and as much as I dislike spending time in the gym a short burst of heavy weights a few times a week really is a great tonic!
darkerside 10y ago
Grip strength is actually not a terrible place to start regardless of direct causality. When most people start weight training, particularly the major pulls (deadlifts, pull ups), the grip is the first part of the lift to fail.
- yummyfajitas 10y ago
  Depends on physiology. I have very big hands, and that makes gripping a bar really easy. To train grip I need to use Phat Gripz (this thing: http://amzn.to/2kG9XSf http://amzn.to/2kG9XSf just look at the pic) when deadlifting for reps. Some years back I was practicing martial arts. Certain disarms just didn't work on me simply because of how far around the weapon my fingers went.
gadders 10y ago
Farmers Walks are good as well. I've done 80kg in each hand for 20m (at a bodyweight of 105kg). //edit// and at the age of 45.
- maxcan 10y ago
  They're excellent. Also, much more of a full body, compound movement than people realize.
hutzlibu 10y ago
"If you want to have a healthy, long life focus on overall strength. Squats, deadlifts, odd-object carries etc." ... or do something that applies your strength in the outside world, like climbing ;) Bonus points for fresh air and awesome view ...
ekidd 10y ago
> If you're new to lifting, have someone who isn't show you proper form. I cannot emphasize this enough. And even then, be extremely careful with heavy lifts (anything more than, say, what your body weight would be at 20% body fat). I worked regularly with an extremely good Rippetoe-certified coach. My form was better than most of the beginners you see in the gym. At 40, I was stronger than I was as a high-school athlete, and it was an amazing feeling. But one day, a 245x5 squat set went very slightly weird. Two days latter, I had tingling and numbness in my foot soles. It turns out that I'd aggravated a relatively minor disk bulge at L4/L5 (about half the population has a disk bulge there). And now I've been in moderate pain for close to three months with very slow improvement. The long-term prognosis is excellent, as far as I know. I will almost certainly heal. I know plenty of people who've done worse to their backs and who are fine today. But heed my example: If you're going to do heavy lifts, especially deadlifts or squats, make sure your form is as close to perfect as you can get it, and remember that you can't eliminate all risk. One thing I have noticed: There are no 55- to 70-year-old powerlifters in the gym. But there are old bodybuilders who've been lifting for 40+ years with only the rarest of injuries. They're careful, and they say things like, "I don't like the risk/reward on heavy squats." When I return to serious lifting, I'm considering on giving up on powerlifting and switching to a more bodybuilding-centric program.
- autokad 10y ago
  squats are extremely dangerous, and I dont think anyone should do them. it only takes 1 set of bad form to permanently damage one's back or knees. that doesnt stop body builders from spreading the gospel of squats, even as they have copious knee and/or back problems.
  - harveywi 10y ago
    Poppycock.
  - Neliquat 10y ago
    This is patently untrue. Provide some data or get out of here. Squats are universally accepted as one of the best natural movements of the body to train.
sonthonax 10y ago
How heavy are you may I ask? I am 90kg, I can do a mile in 5.45 (tested in an army reserves fitness test) and don't feel I can deadlift more than 220kg safely, but then again I can do many reps of that.
- necrobrit 10y ago
  That's an excellent deadlift if you are doing it for reps. Handy for reference: https://symmetricstrength.com/standards#/90/kg/male/- https://symmetricstrength.com/standards#/90/kg/male/-
- ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
  even a single 485 @198 lbs is more than decent. if you're repping it and your max is probably somewhere the mid 500s then you're approaching "elite" level according to USPA: https://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for-raw-elite-uspa/ https://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for...
pdog 10y ago
Is this a joke? Heavy lifters and bodybuilders don't live a healthier or longer life—they generally die younger and have more health problems. The scientific consensus is that endurance exercise like walking or running is much better for you than lifting (in terms of longevity, cardiovascular and health benefits).
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- cesarbs 10y ago
  Do you have any sources for that?
markatkinson 10y ago
I used to do a lot of lifting. Did the Starting Strength which was awesome and definitely the most enjoyable regime. However I just got a bit bored of it all and kind of felt like I always had my ear on the ground for something more interesting, or technical (I do miss squats). To get to my point I started climbing a few months back and it has totally hit the spot for me. It is incredibly technical, you have both indoor and outdoor options, and you also build incredibly functional strength. Including improving your grip strength more so than in any other sport. This is totally anecdotal, and of course climbing gyms are not as common as normal gyms. But just in case someone is reading this and wants to give something else a try I highly recommend it. Also you get to buy some cool gear which is always nice.
- and0 10y ago
  Also started climbing a month ago, after having enjoyed trying it like ~5 years ago (but no gyms where I lived). It's incredibly satisfying. A mix between problem solving and physical exertion. I've never been a gym rat but I'm excited for my skin and grip strength to return so I can go back every 2-3 days and nail that next level of difficulty.
- at-fates-hands 10y ago
  >> But just in case someone is reading this and wants to give something else a try I highly recommend it. Completely agree. I just started out and we have several indoor climbing places where I live. I've been trying to find an alternative to having my body being beat up playing hockey two to three times a week and thought this was a good alternative. First of all, it doesn't cost a lot to get involved. I've found it works my whole body out, engages my brain in a way hockey simply can't and has really made me focus on how my body moves since my grip strength just isn't there yet. So far, I like it a lot and would also recommend it to anybody.
  - saiya-jin 10y ago
    it's a great sport, my favorite for summer months (ski touring would cover the winter), but it doesn't build same amount of strength as proper full body gym workout does (at least on 6a/5.10 levels). I was doing gym 2-3x a week doing free weights, and then decided to let just climbing 3-4x a week do the muscles for the upper body. I lost a lot of muscle, and also real strength and stamina for some activities. climbing is full body workout, but some parts of the body get much more load than others, depending on your level. for example on my weekend-warrior level, you don't work out biceps at all. core gets only very small workout.
andrewljohnson 10y ago
If you want to live a long life, weight lifting is counterproductive, especially if you become very massive. Instead, you want to be small, fit, and not eat much (which means not doing unnecessary exercise). For example, this paper discusses how caloric restriction extends life spans for rodents, primates, and humans across the board: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163716301830 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163716...
- scotch_drinker 10y ago
  Living a long life isn't the goal. Living as long a life as you can while at optimal health is. Being a small runt who doesn't eat much and who is always sick isn't a very admirable goal. The inverse correlation with grip strength and all cause morbidity is likely related to people with strong grips are sitting at their desk with Captains of Crush grip exercisers. They are likely in the gym, doing deadlifts, working with physically demanding objects, etc. Our push to extend life span has resulted in us being old, pathetic weaklings. A long life that has the last 20 years spent in a variety of sicknesses sounds awful.
Bartweiss 10y ago
Thanks for this. I was baffled to see so many comments explaining how to "fix your grip strength". It's not a bad thing to do, as a climber I care a lot about grip strength, but it's not a significant total-health goal. Grip strength is highly predictive partly because people don't train it, and so it represents overall fitness and muscle development. Working hand strength in isolation just breaks that predictive relationship without producing the overall health improvements that come from an active life and whole-body fitness.

by maxcan 10y ago

Hydraulix989 10y ago

That puts you in the most elite category for fitness (at least for strength): http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/DeadliftStandards.html http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/DeadliftStandards.... The bar is a lot higher for mile times, but 7 minute mile still is top ~25% of the American population, given we're all so sedentary.

pyromine 10y ago
That's absurd, I had surgery and couldn't do anything for 3 weeks, once finally cleared my second run I ran a 6:30 mile. How is it that as a society we've devalued physical health so strongly.
- afarrell 10y ago
  There is a myth that physical ability is a trade-off against mental ability. You see this in the slogan "sleep is for the weak" and in the stereotype of the nerd as sedentary. It is a myth--the brain is a part of the body and by nurturing the body you support the brain.
  - bluebeard 10y ago
    To add to that, lifting heavy weights causes the central nervous system to fire off huge amount of electrical signals to muscle groups. While this does cause fatigue which can leave you feeling "hazy", I would not be surprised if it improved cognitive endurance for other tasks. And I have to comment on the irony of sleep being the most important factor in muscle recovery, along with a good diet.
  - rusk 10y ago
    I think this myth emerges from the high-school jock vs nerd archetypes. The HSJ spends his time training, chasing chicks and neglecting his studies, while the more studious get on with their school work. Of course in reality you have smart people that are all-star footballers and stupid people who study, but I guess the less nuanced picture still dominates people conscience. I guess particularly because the school years are most formative.
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
  - katzgrau 10y ago
    I prefer to view it in reverse (and word it differently) - the body is an organ of the mind. But I would agree - the mind and body are powerfully complimentary.
  - gadders 10y ago
    Mens sana in corpore sano. You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body. Ask for a stout heart that has no fear of death, and deems length of days the least of Nature's gifts that can endure any kind of toil, that knows neither wrath nor desire and thinks the woes and hard labors of Hercules better than the loves and banquets and downy cushions of Sardanapalus. What I commend to you, you can give to yourself; For assuredly, the only road to a life of peace is virtue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sano https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_sana_in_corpore_sano
  - nvarsj 10y ago
    > It is a myth--the brain is a part of the body and by nurturing the body you support the brain. Is there any evidence backing this up? I hear it proclaimed a lot, but there are plenty of examples of brilliant people who are not physically strong, such as Stephen Hawking.
sandworm101 10y ago
Top 25% doesn't sound all that great given how many are totally incapable of running a mile in any time. I once looked up my swimming pace for a typical workout (15min x 5km). That's well within the top 0.1%. Navy SEALs dont swim that well. But given that probably less than 1% of the general population swim any laps regularly, it isnt saying much. Fyi, if you want to feel good about your swimming, lookup the youtube vids of the navy seals swimming standards. I know 12yo kids who could pass them. Their pace wouldnt even qualify for the 'fast' lane at my local lap pool (50m/minute).
- defen 10y ago
  SEAL operators aren't selected for pure speed - they want the guy who is capable of swimming 20 miles after being awake for 48 hours, if that were to be necessary. There's a (high) baseline level of fitness, but more than that it's about insane willpower, esprit de corps, and ability to handle stressful situations.
  - sonthonax 10y ago
    Most of those who I know, who are in SF units can do a mile in under 6 minutes.
  - sandworm101 10y ago
    Ive had this discuss with drill a instructor. He asked, barring hypothermia, how far a competative swimmer could go before drowning. My estimate is something like 100km. Swimming slowly, say 0.5m/second, is easier than walking for such people. They would be dead of dehydration before they drown.
- 3chelon 10y ago
  Your statement about 12 yo kids is an understatement - while I'm plodding along doing 50m every 45 sec (admittedly over a distance), the 12 year olds from my local club are leaving me standing. They're probably aiming towards 50m in around 30 sec. I'm sure the special forces guys are much bigger and heavier than that and as another commenter said, speed will not be their top priority.

martinko 10y ago

TL;DR: Do deadlifts.

rusk 10y ago
I'd love to, but my knees are banjaxed. Making do with leg press, bench and other compound exercises with heavy weights. If you can't squat, deadlift etc. for whatever reason just lifting heavy weights (free weights if at all possible) is the next best thing.
- jat850 10y ago
  OT but I'd never come across the term "banjaxed" before. Thank you for introducing this to my vocabulary. I can't wait for my first meeting of the day today!
- jschwartzi 10y ago
  try straight-leg deadlifts. As a bonus they're a great hamstring stretch.
- omginternets 10y ago
  Deadlifting with proper form should not tax your knees. It's certainly gentler than a leg-press...
  - rusk 10y ago
    Deadlifting maybe now that I think of it would in theory be okay, but my physio has me on a course of isolation exercises and has advised against complex compound movements because we're trying to correct muscle activation patterns. Leg press isnt ideal but it's a good way to develop the glutes without introducing too much lateral force. My particular issue is a badly eroded knee-cap which tends to float about a bit. The specialist I've seen has described it as advanced arthritis but I'm fairly sure it's not - just the effect of years of road running with poor form and injury. Going by the MRI scan it's about half the size it should be. Not a question of 'if' I need a knee replacement but when ... Anyway, no more running for me, and as much as I dislike spending time in the gym a short burst of heavy weights a few times a week really is a great tonic!

darkerside 10y ago

Grip strength is actually not a terrible place to start regardless of direct causality. When most people start weight training, particularly the major pulls (deadlifts, pull ups), the grip is the first part of the lift to fail.

yummyfajitas 10y ago
Depends on physiology. I have very big hands, and that makes gripping a bar really easy. To train grip I need to use Phat Gripz (this thing: http://amzn.to/2kG9XSf http://amzn.to/2kG9XSf just look at the pic) when deadlifting for reps. Some years back I was practicing martial arts. Certain disarms just didn't work on me simply because of how far around the weapon my fingers went.

gadders 10y ago

Farmers Walks are good as well. I've done 80kg in each hand for 20m (at a bodyweight of 105kg). //edit// and at the age of 45.

maxcan 10y ago
They're excellent. Also, much more of a full body, compound movement than people realize.

hutzlibu 10y ago

"If you want to have a healthy, long life focus on overall strength. Squats, deadlifts, odd-object carries etc." ... or do something that applies your strength in the outside world, like climbing ;) Bonus points for fresh air and awesome view ...

ekidd 10y ago

> If you're new to lifting, have someone who isn't show you proper form. I cannot emphasize this enough. And even then, be extremely careful with heavy lifts (anything more than, say, what your body weight would be at 20% body fat). I worked regularly with an extremely good Rippetoe-certified coach. My form was better than most of the beginners you see in the gym. At 40, I was stronger than I was as a high-school athlete, and it was an amazing feeling. But one day, a 245x5 squat set went very slightly weird. Two days latter, I had tingling and numbness in my foot soles. It turns out that I'd aggravated a relatively minor disk bulge at L4/L5 (about half the population has a disk bulge there). And now I've been in moderate pain for close to three months with very slow improvement. The long-term prognosis is excellent, as far as I know. I will almost certainly heal. I know plenty of people who've done worse to their backs and who are fine today. But heed my example: If you're going to do heavy lifts, especially deadlifts or squats, make sure your form is as close to perfect as you can get it, and remember that you can't eliminate all risk. One thing I have noticed: There are no 55- to 70-year-old powerlifters in the gym. But there are old bodybuilders who've been lifting for 40+ years with only the rarest of injuries. They're careful, and they say things like, "I don't like the risk/reward on heavy squats." When I return to serious lifting, I'm considering on giving up on powerlifting and switching to a more bodybuilding-centric program.

autokad 10y ago
squats are extremely dangerous, and I dont think anyone should do them. it only takes 1 set of bad form to permanently damage one's back or knees. that doesnt stop body builders from spreading the gospel of squats, even as they have copious knee and/or back problems.
- harveywi 10y ago
  Poppycock.
- Neliquat 10y ago
  This is patently untrue. Provide some data or get out of here. Squats are universally accepted as one of the best natural movements of the body to train.

sonthonax 10y ago

How heavy are you may I ask? I am 90kg, I can do a mile in 5.45 (tested in an army reserves fitness test) and don't feel I can deadlift more than 220kg safely, but then again I can do many reps of that.

necrobrit 10y ago
That's an excellent deadlift if you are doing it for reps. Handy for reference: https://symmetricstrength.com/standards#/90/kg/male/- https://symmetricstrength.com/standards#/90/kg/male/-
ChemicalWarfare 10y ago
even a single 485 @198 lbs is more than decent. if you're repping it and your max is probably somewhere the mid 500s then you're approaching "elite" level according to USPA: https://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for-raw-elite-uspa/ https://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for...

pdog 10y ago

Is this a joke? Heavy lifters and bodybuilders don't live a healthier or longer life—they generally die younger and have more health problems. The scientific consensus is that endurance exercise like walking or running is much better for you than lifting (in terms of longevity, cardiovascular and health benefits).

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
cesarbs 10y ago
Do you have any sources for that?

markatkinson 10y ago

I used to do a lot of lifting. Did the Starting Strength which was awesome and definitely the most enjoyable regime. However I just got a bit bored of it all and kind of felt like I always had my ear on the ground for something more interesting, or technical (I do miss squats). To get to my point I started climbing a few months back and it has totally hit the spot for me. It is incredibly technical, you have both indoor and outdoor options, and you also build incredibly functional strength. Including improving your grip strength more so than in any other sport. This is totally anecdotal, and of course climbing gyms are not as common as normal gyms. But just in case someone is reading this and wants to give something else a try I highly recommend it. Also you get to buy some cool gear which is always nice.

and0 10y ago
Also started climbing a month ago, after having enjoyed trying it like ~5 years ago (but no gyms where I lived). It's incredibly satisfying. A mix between problem solving and physical exertion. I've never been a gym rat but I'm excited for my skin and grip strength to return so I can go back every 2-3 days and nail that next level of difficulty.
at-fates-hands 10y ago
>> But just in case someone is reading this and wants to give something else a try I highly recommend it. Completely agree. I just started out and we have several indoor climbing places where I live. I've been trying to find an alternative to having my body being beat up playing hockey two to three times a week and thought this was a good alternative. First of all, it doesn't cost a lot to get involved. I've found it works my whole body out, engages my brain in a way hockey simply can't and has really made me focus on how my body moves since my grip strength just isn't there yet. So far, I like it a lot and would also recommend it to anybody.
- saiya-jin 10y ago
  it's a great sport, my favorite for summer months (ski touring would cover the winter), but it doesn't build same amount of strength as proper full body gym workout does (at least on 6a/5.10 levels). I was doing gym 2-3x a week doing free weights, and then decided to let just climbing 3-4x a week do the muscles for the upper body. I lost a lot of muscle, and also real strength and stamina for some activities. climbing is full body workout, but some parts of the body get much more load than others, depending on your level. for example on my weekend-warrior level, you don't work out biceps at all. core gets only very small workout.

andrewljohnson 10y ago

If you want to live a long life, weight lifting is counterproductive, especially if you become very massive. Instead, you want to be small, fit, and not eat much (which means not doing unnecessary exercise). For example, this paper discusses how caloric restriction extends life spans for rodents, primates, and humans across the board: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163716301830 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163716...

scotch_drinker 10y ago
Living a long life isn't the goal. Living as long a life as you can while at optimal health is. Being a small runt who doesn't eat much and who is always sick isn't a very admirable goal. The inverse correlation with grip strength and all cause morbidity is likely related to people with strong grips are sitting at their desk with Captains of Crush grip exercisers. They are likely in the gym, doing deadlifts, working with physically demanding objects, etc. Our push to extend life span has resulted in us being old, pathetic weaklings. A long life that has the last 20 years spent in a variety of sicknesses sounds awful.

Bartweiss 10y ago

Thanks for this. I was baffled to see so many comments explaining how to "fix your grip strength". It's not a bad thing to do, as a climber I care a lot about grip strength, but it's not a significant total-health goal. Grip strength is highly predictive partly because people don't train it, and so it represents overall fitness and muscle development. Working hand strength in isolation just breaks that predictive relationship without producing the overall health improvements that come from an active life and whole-body fitness.