title: Mechanical properties of the human hand digits: age-related differences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mechanical properties of human digits may have significant implications for the hand function. We quantified several mechanical characteristics of individual digits in young and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digit tip friction was measured at several normal force values using a method of induced relative motion between the digit tip and the object surface. A modified quick-release paradigm was used to estimate digit apparent stiffness, damping, and inertial parameters. The subjects grasped a vertical handle instrumented with force/moment sensors using a prismatic grasp with four digits; the handle was fixed to the table. Unexpectedly, one of the sensors yielded leading to a quick displacement of the corresponding digit. A second-order, linear model was used to fit the force/displacement data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Friction of the digit pads was significantly lower in older adults. The apparent stiffness coefficient values were higher while the damping coefficients were lower in older adults leading to lower damping ratio. The damping ratio was above unity for most data in young adults and below unity for older adults. Quick release of a digit led to force changes in other digits of the hand, likely due to inertial hand properties. These phenomena of "mechanical enslaving" were smaller in older adults although no significant difference was found in the inertial parameter in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decreased friction and damping ratio present challenges for the control of everyday prehensile tasks. They may lead to excessive digit forces and low stability of the grasped object.
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Nemanja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pažin
authors.affiliation: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Vladimir M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Zatsiorsky
authors.affiliation: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: mll11@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Latash
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D017276:Friction / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D014159:Transducers
keywords: Aging; Apparent stiffness; Damping; Friction; Hand