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

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 asymme-tries in left-handed subjects.

Uncertainty in aiming movements and its association to hand function

“…In addition, no difference between muscle strength and manual dexterity variables for the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs was observed. These results differ from those described in the literature, which has shown that the dominant member is able to develop higher levels of muscle strength and has a better performance on tasks that require manual dexterity in relation to the non-dominant member (Lima et al, 2012;Lima et al, 2011;Ozcan et al, 2004).…”

“…In those tasks, better performance of the dominant upper limb has been observed (Lima et al, 2012;Lima, Santos, & de Freitas, 2011;Ozcan et al, 2004). The association between strength and dexterity in aiming movement performance of the right and left sides was not examined in these studies.…”

“…Functional laterality is defined as the preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right upper limb in function of hemispheric cerebral specialization for motor control, characterizing the upper limbs as dominant or non-dominant (Duff & Sainburg, 2007;Lima, Francisco, & de Freitas, 2012;Mutha, Haaland, & Sainburg, 2013;Ozcan, Tulum, Pinar, & Baskurt, 2004). It has been shown that cerebral hemispheres assume specializations of different aspects of movement control, increasing its efficiency.…”

Stability of Pain Measures in a Different Stimuli Context

“…Next, no information considering menstrual cycle phase was obtained in the present experiment, though there are some indications 27 that this is also a factor that affects pain sensitivity. Additionally, participants were not asked if they were left-or right-handed though, according to some authors 30 , dexterity might influence hand-sensitivity. Also, since familiarity of pain modalities turned out to be a possible confounding variable, further studies should include at least several pre-measurements (that would not be taken into the statistical analysis) in order to reduce or eliminate its possible effect.…”

Influence of Sitting Orientation on Upper Extremity Function in Normal Children Between 5 to 16 Years Using Nine Hole Peg Test

“…Manual dexterity is defined as the ability to integrate precision and speed with finely coordinated movements of the arm, hand and fingers [3]. Skilled movement requires complex patterns of muscular coordination based on motor patterns acquired during early life [4].…”