[ejb999]

I think its the later - I have always understood grip strength to be an easy to measure proxy for your overall health; no harm in doing only grip strength exercises, but the better way is to lead a healthy and active life where your good grip strength is side effect of all the activities you do.

Watching TV all day on the couch drinking beer and potato chips - but with a grip exerciser in your hand is probably not going to give you much of a benefit.