Laterality of handgrip strength: age‐ and physical training–related changes in Lithuanian schoolchildren and conscripts

Abstract

Laterality in handgrip strength was assessed by analyzing dynamometric data of the right and left hand in three samples of Lithuanian boys and girls aged 7-20 years. In addition, the influence of general physical training on the laterality of handgrip strength was explored in a sample of conscripts. A negative secular trend in handgrip strength of schoolchildren has been detected since 1965, and with increasing age, right-handedness has become more pronounced. Children that were ambidextrous (by grip strength) showed negative deviations in physical status more often than their right- or left-handed peers. During one year of physical training, the conscripts had a larger increase in grip strength of the left than in the right hand, and a marked shift in handgrip laterality toward left-handed and ambidextrous individuals was observed. The different impact of schooling and physical training on handgrip strength laterality might partly explain variations in the prevalence of handedness in different societies with divergent cultures and lifestyles (e.g., more or less sedentary).

Secular trends in physical fitness of Mozambican school‐aged children and adolescents

“…However, in girls, the absence of a mass component explaining the negative trend requires that we look elsewhere, namely changes in their lifestyle, especially increases in their sedentary activities and reductions in their involvement in daily chores/traditional games (Saranga et al, 2008). Similar results with comparable explanations were previously found in European girls (Tutkuviene and Schiefenhovel, 2013).…”

Lateral differences in maximal grip strength in Czech male tennis players aged 11 – 12 in the context of injury prevention

“…Hand grip strength for right-handed players was found greater in their dominant hand (comply with the 10% rule), but for the left-handed players the results were more equilibrated or even higher on their non-dominant hand (Bohannon, 2003;Hepping et al, 2015). During the study we have found the same results as authors mentioned above and others (Hepping et al, 2015;Tutkuviene & Schiefenhövel 2013;Incel et al, 2002;Bohannon, 2003), who claimed -that left-handed players were more often stronger on their non-dominant against their dominant hand in comparison with their right-handed rivals.…”

“…Grip strength in boys grew linearly with age in both hands until the 12th year. After that accelerated increase in strength for dominant hand occurred and for non-dominant hand we could observed the same tendencies after reaching the 13th year (Butterfield et al, 2009;Ploegmakers et al, 2013;Tutkuviene & Schiefenhövel 2013;Loffing et al, 2014;Hepping et al, 2015).…”

Higher Diet Quality is Associated with Lower Odds of Low Hand Grip Strength in the Korean Elderly Population

“…HGS can be influenced by many factors, such as age [11], gender [12], race [13], and exercise [14]. Nutritional status is one of the major determinants of HGS with aging.…”