Maybe Clint Eastwood Was Onto Something, Science Says Millennials Are Weaker Than Previous Generations

Last week, Clint Eastwood said, “We’re really in a pussy generation.” Now, he was referring to the perceived sensitivity of the current generation as well as his disdain for political correctness. But, science may back his claims that millennials are indeed weaker than their predecessors, at least when it comes to arm strength.

The study had 237 healthy millennials, aged between 20 to 34 years, perform grip and lateral pinch measurements (the strength of your hand and upper extremities). The same exact test was done in 1985 with men and women the same age. The data found that the millennials were weaker than their predecessors, with the exception of women in aged between 30 and 34 years. Congratulations ladies, must be all that Bikram Yoga or greater access to sex toys.

The participants were asked to squeeze a hand dynamometer, a joystick-like device with a dial to measure the strength of a grip in pounds. Millennial men got their asses handed to them significantly.

From NPR:

In 1985, men ages 20-24 had an average right-handed grip of 121 pounds and left-handed grip of 105 pounds. Today, men that age had grips of only 101 and 99 pounds, the study found. Men 25-29 posted losses of 26 and 19 pounds.

Generation X stand up.

Of course, this has a lot to do with occupations shifting from manual labor jobs to technology-related, cozy office positions.

The study was published in the Journal of Hand Therapy. Which reminds me, I need to make an appointment at my massage parlor that totally isn’t a front for a yanky cranky shop.

You’d imagine that all that texting and access to free internet porn that previous generations did not have available to them would at the very least increase the wrist and thumb strength of millennials, but no dice.

[NPR]

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