title: Provisional norms by age group for Japanese women on the controlled force exertion test using a quasi-random display.
abstract: This study examined age group and individual differences in the controlled force exertion test using quasi-random display and proposed a provisional norm in 249 female participants who were right-handed and aged 15 to 84 years. The participants matched their submaximal grip strength exertions to changing demand values, appearing as a quasi-random wave on the display of a personal computer. The quasi-random waveform changed in pi with amplitude and in pi/2 with frequency (peak and mean frequency were 0.1 Hz in both waveforms). The participants performed the controlled force exertion test three times at 1-min. intervals (single trials were 40 sec.), after one practice trial using the dominant hand. The total sum of the percent of differences between the demand value and the grip exertion value for 25 sec. was used as an evaluation parameter. Measurements showed a right-skewed distribution, which was normal after logarithmic transformation. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in the means of each age group, and test performance decreased after 50 years of age. Norms for each age group were established. An individual's controlled force exertion by the provisional norm as devised in this study can be properly evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 5 Nakauchi-cho, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan. ynaga@mb.kyoto-phu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008875:Middle Aged; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D012016:Reference Values; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055815:Young Adult