Muscle loss, weak grip and slow walking pace linked to higher stroke risk

DALLAS, May 7, 2026 - Muscle loss, a weaker grip and a slower walking pace were associated with a higher risk of stroke in adults , according to new research published today in Stroke , the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. In the study, people with low muscle strength had a 30% higher risk of any type of stroke; a 31% higher risk of an ischemic stroke; and a 41% higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Having lower grip strength was linked to a 7% higher chance of having a stroke. Slow walking pace was associated with a 64% increased risk of stroke compared to a brisk pace.

In clinical practice, we often see that patients with lower levels of physical function tend to have worse overall health outcomes. However, these physical function indicators are currently not routinely incorporated into stroke risk assessment," said study author Lu-sha Tong, M.D., a neurologist at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China.