Comparison of pressure pain threshold, grip strength, dexterity and touch pressure of dominant and non-dominant hands within and between right- and left-handed subjects

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Ozcan A., Tulum Z., Pinar L., Baskurt F.

JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE, vol.19, no.6, pp.874-878, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.6.874
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.874-878
  • Keywords: laterality handedness, sensory thresholds, hand strength, motor skills, SEMMES-WEINSTEIN MONOFILAMENTS, ELDERLY-PEOPLE, RELIABILITY, SENSIBILITY, DIFFERENCE, ASYMMETRY, VALIDITY
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This study was done to evaluate differences in pressure pain threshold, grip strength, manual dexterity and touch pressure threshold in the dominant and non-dominant hands of right- and left-handed subjects, and to compare findings within and between these groups. Thirty-nine right-handed and twenty-one left-handed subjects participated in the study. Pressure pain threshold was assessed using a dolorimeter, grip strength was assessed with a hand-grip dynamometer, manual dexterity was evaluated using the VALPAR Component Work Sample-4 system, and touch pressure threshold was determined using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments. Results for the dominant and non-dominant hands were compared within and between the groups. In the right-handed subjects, the dominant hand was significantly faster with the VALPAR Component Work Sample-4, showed significantly greater grip strength, and had a significantly higher pressure pain threshold than the non-dominant hand. The corresponding results for the two hands were similar in the left-handed subjects. The study revealed asymmetrical manual performance in grip strength, manual dexterity and pressure pain threshold in right-handed subjects, but no such asymmetries in left-handed subjects.