The Influence of Age-related Changes in Tactile Sensibility and Muscular Strength on Hand Function in Older Adult Females

• Main Authors: Jun Murata, Shin Murata, Jiro Hiroshige, Hiroshi Ohtao, Jun Horie, Yoshihiro Kai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency and Critical Medicine (TSGECM) 2010-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Gerontology
• Subjects: aging; manual dexterity; tactile-pressure threshold; handgrip strength
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1873959810000098

Background: Aging affects the human hand function. For example, a decline in manual dexterity often accompanies old age. This decline corresponds to age-related changes in muscle and/or tactile functions. This study investigated whether age-related changes in muscular strength and tactile sensibility are related to the hand function. Methods: The subjects consisted of 64 older adult females. The hand function was assessed using Perdue pegboard test. The handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Tactile-pressure threshold was evaluated using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. These tests were performed on the dominant hand. All data items were compared among the four age groups (65–69 years, n=17; 70–74 years, n=16; 75–79 years, n=15; 80–85 years, n=16). Results: The scores on Perdue pegboard test showed significant differences among the four age groups, and they decreased with age. The tactile-pressure threshold was augmented with increasing age, whereas handgrip strength did not differ among the four age groups. A significant relationship was observed between the Perdue pegboard test score and tactile-pressure threshold (r=−0.61), but not the handgrip strength (r=0.18). Conclusion: These results suggested that the manual dexterity in the hand function was attenuated with increasing age. We considered that this attenuating effect was associated with a decline in tactile sensibility rather than a change in the muscular strength of the hand.