The associations between digit ratio, aerobic fitness, physical skills, and overall physical fitness of elite youth distance runners

Abstract

Objective Lower digit ratios between the lengths of fingers 2 (2D) and 4 (4D) (2D:4D) are associated with superior distance running and athletic performance. We examined relationships between 2D:4D, aerobic fitness, physical skills, and overall physical fitness of elite adolescent boy and girl distance runners. Methods Subjects were top five finishers for their sex and age in 10 or more races of 10 km or longer in Michigan in 1981. We calculated 2D:4D of 15 girls and 11 boys from radiographs. Subject peak O2 consumption (VO2Peak), ventilatory threshold (VT), and point of equivalent change (PEC) were collected during intermittent treadmill protocol tests. Performances on physical skills tests (flex‐arm hang, broad jump, vertical jump, figure‐8‐run, sit ups, and sit‐and‐reach test) were collected in the laboratory. We examined the interrelationships between 2D:4D, subject sex, aerobic fitness, physical skills test performance, and overall physical fitness, a composite of aerobic and physical skills performance with correlation, linear regression, t tests, and principle component analyses. Results Girls had significantly larger right hand (R) 2D:4D than boys. Boys had greater VO2Peak by mass than girls. Boys with lower R2D:4D had significantly greater VO2Peak and PEC. Girls with lower R2D:4D had significantly greater VT. Factors associated with aerobic fitness explained most of the variation in composite physical fitness scores. Composite aerobic fitness, physical skills, and overall physical fitness scores of boys were negatively correlated with R2D:4D. Conclusions These data suggest that R2D:4D may help predict distance running performance in girls and boys and overall physical fitness in boys and provide additional insights into the innate factors influencing youth physical fitness.

Influence of 2D:4D ratio on fitness parameters and accumulated training load in elite youth soccer players

“…The obtained results were in concordance with our hypothesis, where was predicted that players with low right and left hand 2D:4D would have high muscular strength performance. These results are in line with the findings of previous studies, that analyzed the relationship between athletic performance and digit ratio of adolescents [ 33 , 34 , 55 ], which have reported a negative correlate between digit ratio, aerobic fitness and physical skills in teenage boys and girls distance runners, or who reported a negative correlate between digit ratio and VO 2max in adolescents involved in different sports (soccer, squash, table tennis, and athletics), or even a moderate negative correlate between digit ratio and muscular strength found in adolescents. The results of the present study revealed insights to the coaches implement into the training process, especially in the soccer context, and could be important to optimize the performance of their athletes.…”

“…Previous studies have reported high to very high correlations in fitness parameters with training load, as well as 2D:4D ratio with the aforementioned in youth athletes [ 19 , 31 , 34 , 37 ]. Therefore, the results were analyzed to obtain a sample size with at least 90% power.…”

“…Based on previous literature [ 33 ], we predicted that players with low right and left hand 2D:4D would have higher muscular strength performance. It was also hypothesized that 2D:4D ratio would predict the changes of VO 2max in young soccer players [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Exploring Finger Digit Ratios (2D:4D) in Surgeons, Professional Rugby Players, and Political Journalists to Form a Directional Hypothesis: Could Finger Length Predict Attention and Focus?

“…The mechanisms by which these outcomes occur include activation of signaling pathways which promote mobilization of energy stores ( Sato et al, 2008 ; Mitsuhashi et al, 2016 ), modulation of neuromotor units ( Bonifazi et al, 2004 ), the accumulation of protein for muscle “growth” via mTor ( Basualto-Alarcon et al, 2013 ), and increased motivation ( Smith et al, 2013 ; Cook et al, 2021 ). Therefore, given the role testosterone can play when it comes to human behavior and performance, the mechanisms by which it works, and that prenatal testosterone exposure may influence testosterone responsiveness later in life, it is unsurprising to see that right 2D:4D has been shown to be predictive of social and competitive behaviors ( Kilduff et al, 2013a , b ; Crewther et al, 2015a ; Nepomuceno et al, 2016 ), sporting performance (including in international Rugby union, distance running, skiing, and sumo wrestling; Manning, 2002 , Manning et al, 2007 , 2014 ; Tamiya et al, 2012 ; Kilduff et al, 2013a ; Lombardo and Otieno, 2020 ), musical ability ( Sluming and Manning, 2000 ), risk taking behaviors ( Coates et al, 2009 ; Massimino et al, 2019 ), and academic performance ( Coco et al, 2011 ; Tektas et al, 2019 ).…”

Gender Differences and Relationship of 2D:4D-Ratio, Mental Toughness and Dark Triad Traits among Active Young Adults

“…Among highly skilled elite performers, it appears that striving for excellence is associated with a combination of physical and psychological factors [ 1 , 2 ]. Specifically, there is some evidence that individuals exposed prenatally to higher testosterone and lower estrogen concentrations might have a better physical performance as children [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], adolescents [ 5 , 6 ] (but see also [ 7 ] for opposite results), and adults [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Given this background, the following theoretical foundations and hypotheses were examined.…”