[Evaluating occupational stress on the hand]

In order to achieve objective data to eventually measure the dexterity of hands, we examined 210 hands in 105 persons. These persons were divided into two groups: one group of people with jobs demanding unusual dexterity (musicians, typists, etc.), and another group with average occupational demands on the hand. As expected, we found that hand length and breadth and wrist circumference are always greater in the dominant hand of any individual. The thumb and small finger are always longer in the dominant hand. Joints' active range of motion are significantly higher in individuals whose occupations were particularly demanding.