Does elastic resistance affect finger pinch discrimination?
OBJECTIVE
The sensitivity of pinch movement discrimination between the thumb and index finger was assessed with and without elastic resistance.


BACKGROUND
Researchers have examined the effect of elastic resistance on control of single upper-limb movements; however, no one has explored how elastic resistance affects proprioceptive acuity when using two digits simultaneously in a coordinated movement.


METHODS
For this study, 16 right-handed, healthy young adults undertook an active finger pinch movement discrimination test for the right and left hands, with and without elastic resistance. We manipulated pinch movement distance by varying the size of the object that created the physical stop to end the pinch action.


RESULTS
Adding elastic resistance from a spring to the thumb-index finger pinch task did not affect accuracy of pinch discrimination measured as either the just noticeable difference, F(1, 15) = 1.78, p = .20, or area under the curve, F(1, 15) = 0.07, p = .80.


CONCLUSIONS
Having elastic resistance to generate lever return in pincers, tweezers, and surgical equipment or in virtual instruments is unlikely to affect pinch movement discrimination.


CONCLUSIONS
Elastic resistance did not affect finger pinch discrimination in the present study, suggesting that return tension on equipment lever arms has a practical but not perceptual function. An active finger pinch movement discrimination task, with or without elastic resistance, could be used for hand proprioceptive training and as a screening tool to identify those with aptitude or decrements in fine finger movement control.
Shanghai University of Sport, 650 Qingyuanhuan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200438, China. jia.han@canberra.edu.au
Jia
J
Han
Gordon
G
Waddington
Judith
J
Anson
Roger
R
Adams
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D004056:Differential Threshold; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult