LAUSR

Introduction Muscle fatigability can be measured based on sustained handgrip performance, but different grip strength devices exist and their relationship to frailty remains unclear. We aimed to compare muscle fatigability obtained by Martin Vigorimeter and Jamar Dynamometer in older women across levels of frailty. Method 53 community‐dwelling women living in Greece (63–100 y), categorized according to tertiles on the Frailty Index score (FI) as: low‐frail (FI < 0.19), intermediate‐frail (FI 0.19–0.36), and high‐frail (FI > 0.36). Fatigue resistance (FR, time for maximal grip strength to decrease to 50% during sustained contraction) was measured with both Martin Vigorimeter and Jamar Dynamometer, and grip work (GW, reflecting the area under the time‐force curve) was calculated. Results FR, when measured with the Martin Vigorimeter, was approximately double in low‐frail (44.3 ± 24.6 s) compared to high‐frail participants (23.9 ± 12.7 s, p = 0.011), whereas FR was similar across frailty groups when measured with the Jamar Dynamometer. In logistic regression models, FR (OR = 0.94 [0.90–0.99]) and GW (OR = 0.90 [0.82–0.99]) were significantly related to high frailty when measured with the Martin Vigorimeter but not when measured with Jamar Dynamometer. There is a significantly proportional difference in FR measured with both devices (R2 = 0.364, p < 0.001), highlighting that the longer the participant could sustain the FR test, the higher the difference in FR measured with both devices. Conclusion Our results suggest that the Martin Vigorimeter is a more appropriate handgrip device compared with the Jamar Dynamometer to assess muscle fatigability for older women across levels of frailty. When measured with the Martin Vigorimeter, high‐frail participants show twice the level of fatigability compared to low‐frail, whereas no difference was observed when using the Jamar Dynamometer. Older participants might stop the FR test prematurely when using the Jamar Dynamometer, before muscle fatigue is reached, indicating that the Jamar Dynamometer is unable to identify those participants with higher levels of muscle endurance. Martin Vigorimeter assessed muscle fatigability might be a good additional marker to include in frailty tools. HighlightsMuscle fatigability is easily measured via sustained maximal handgrip contraction.Different handgrip devices exist but their relationship to frailty remains unclear.Martin Vigorimeter assesses muscle fatigability better than the Jamar Dynamometer.Jamar Dynamometer is unable to identify those subjects with higher muscle endurance.Martin Vigorimeter values are 2× higher in low‐frail compared to high‐frail persons.