Task-specific motor performance and musculoskeletal response in self-classified right handers

We examined the difference between the left and right hand motor performance (in terms of erg produced) of self-classified right handers (15 men, 15 women) for power (task involving muscle force) and skilled (task involving precision and eye hand coordination) tasks. Musculoskeletal response during task performance was measured by electromyogram to test the hypothesis that performance with the nondominant hand would trigger more generalized muscle tension. The difference between the left and right hand performance of men was nonsignificant for power task; for women, right hand performance was significantly superior than left for such task. Men excelled in power and women excelled in skilled tasks relative to their counterparts. Generalized muscle tension was significantly more during the left than the right hand performance for power but not for skilled tasks.