• Silpa Immanuel

Back ground:Hand grip strength (HGS) is a simple way of predicting the risk of all-cause mortality in the general population.It is a strong predictor of quality of life and overall health which constitutes both physical and mental well being. Mental health of the parents could be thoroughly compromised with differently-abled child especially with Autism.The aim of this study was to compare hand grip strength of mothers of children with Autism to neurotypical controls. Method: In this case control study design using Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism, 30 mothers, aged 20-40 years of children with Autism and 30 age matched mothers with neurotypical children volunteered to participate through convenience sampling. The dominant and non dominant hand grip strength was tested using digital hand grip dynamometer. Results:The mean dominant and non dominant hand grip strength among mothers of children with Autism was significantly lower compared to that of controls (20.3±2.8kg vs 22.1±2.6 kg) and (19.1±2.8kg vs 20.4±4.1kg) respectively. There was statistically significant difference at 5% level of significance. There was a strong positive correlation between dominant and non dominant hand grip strength in mothers of children with Autism( r = 0.925, p value <0.001) and moderate positive correlation in controls( r = 0.475, p value <0.001). Conclusion: The mothers of children with Autism had significantly poorer hand grip strength as compared to controls. Future studies are needed to determine extent of muscle weakness in the caregivers associated with mental health.

Hand grip strength, Dynamometer, Autism, Mother, Neurotypical

"Hand grip strength in mothers of Autism compared with controls", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no.160-167, December-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812824.pdf

"Hand grip strength in mothers of Autism compared with controls", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 12, page no. pp160-167, December-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1812824.pdf