title: 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 asymmetries in left-handed subjects.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Inciralti, 35340, Izmir-Turkey. ayse.ozcan@deu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tulum
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinar
authors.forename: Ferdi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Başkurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*