title: Hand Sensibility, Strength, and Laxity of High-Level Musicians Compared to Nonmusicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether musicians have more sensitive, stronger, and flexible hands than nonmusicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 musicians and 100 control subjects were assessed for 2-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament light touch, grip and pinch strength, and laxity. Musicians were included if enrolled as instrumental performance majors at a 4-year accredited conservatory of music. Nonmusician controls were university students who never or rarely engaged in playing an instrument. All subjects were between the ages of 18 and 28. The exclusion criterion was history of any hand condition, trauma, surgery, or diabetes. Statistical analyses were carried out using the t test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficients as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-level musicians in our cohort showed the same handedness (dominance) as the general population. The musicians were weaker than the nonmusicians. Male musicians were significantly weaker in pinch and grip bilaterally than nonmusicians, whereas female musicians were significantly weaker only in grip on the right/dominant side. Two-point discrimination was significantly less in musicians for the left/nondominant index, ring, and small fingers, and the right/dominant small and dominant index finger. Semmes-Weinstein testing was significantly better for the right/dominant digits, including the thumb, but not the left digits with the exception of the ring and nondominant middle and ring. There was no difference in laxity between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-level musicians have, in general, more sensitive but weaker hands than nonmusicians, but the differences seem small and may not be clinically important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Susan E G
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago IL.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago IL; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Warren C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hammert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago IL; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY. Electronic address: openelfar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Elfar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: 2-point discrimination; Laxity; light touch threshold; musicians; spatial discrimination