Unilateral hand force control impairments in older women

Authors

  • Hanall Lee Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Division of Sport Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2084-6666
  • Young-Min Park Division of Health and Kinesiology, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Sport Science Institute & Health Promotion Center, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8297-7995
  • Nyeonju Kang Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Division of Sport Science, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea. Phone: +82 32 835 8573, Fax: +82 32 835 0788, E-mail: nyunju@inu.ac.kr https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5185-9139

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2022-5362

Keywords:

unilateral motor control, force control, motor dexterity, aging, older women

Abstract

Older women may experience deficits in sensorimotor control at their upper limb because of aging progress compromising the motor system. This study aimed to investigate whether younger and older women differ in sensorimotor capabilities assessed by unilateral force control performances at a lower targeted force level. Twenty-one older and 21 younger women performed isometric unilateral force control tasks at 10 % of maximum voluntary contraction for each hand, respectively. Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) was used to measure unilateral hand dexterity. Five force control variables (i.e., maximal and submaximal force, force error, variability, and regularity) and PPT scores were analyzed in two-way mixed ANOVAs (Group × Hand Condition), respectively. The absolute force power was analyzed in three-way mixed ANOVA (Group × Hand Condition × Frequency Band). The findings revealed that older women produced less maximal and submaximal unilateral forces than in younger women. Greater variability, regularity, and force frequency oscillations below 4 Hz were observed in older women as compared with those in younger women. Force error in the dominant hand was greater in older women than those in younger women. Finally, older women showed lower PPT scores than younger women. These findings suggested that older women may have deficits in unilateral force control capabilities as well as motor dexterity.

Author Biographies

Young-Min Park, Division of Health and Kinesiology, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Sport Science Institute & Health Promotion Center, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea

Young-Min Park, Ph. D.

Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory

Division of Health and Kinesiology

Incheon National University

119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Phone: +82 32 835 8586

e-mail: ypark@inu.ac.kr,

Nyeonju Kang, Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Division of Sport Science, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea. Phone: +82 32 835 8573, Fax: +82 32 835 0788, E-mail: nyunju@inu.ac.kr

Nyeonju Kang, Ph. D.

Neuromechanical Rehabilitation Research Laboratory

Division of Sport Science

Incheon National University

119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Phone: +82 32 835 8573

Fax: +82 32 835 0788

E-mail: nyunju@inu.ac.kr

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Published

2022-09-22

How to Cite

Lee, H., Park, Y.-M., & Kang, N. (2022). Unilateral hand force control impairments in older women. EXCLI Journal, 21, 1231–1244. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2022-5362

Issue

Vol. 21 (2022)

Section

Original articles

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2022 Hanall Lee, Young-Min Park, Nyeonju Kang

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