Power of the clock: is time of day associated with handgrip strength and gait speed? Analysis of data from 10,000 participants.

This study examined the associations between time of day, handgrip strength (HS), and gait speed using data from 10,785 participants. HS was higher in the afternoon (+0.4-0.5 kg) and evening (+0.9-1.0 kg) compared with the morning, and higher in the evening (+0.5 kg) compared with the afternoon. Time of day (hour) was positively associated with HS (β = 0.06 kg). No significant associations were observed for gait speed. In conclusion, HS was lowest in the morning, higher in the afternoon, and greatest in the evening. These results underscore the importance of considering time of day in HS assessments.