Predictive influence of non-dominant hand performance on work-related dominant hand function using the Jebsen-Taylor...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Occupational Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Hand dominance impacts motor skills due to superior neurological control in the dominant hand.
• The functional contributions of the non-dominant hand are less understood, necessitating further investigation.
• Understanding non-dominant hand capabilities is vital for comprehensive functional assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive capability of non-dominant hand performance for dominant hand performance in healthy adults.
• To utilize the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) for assessing hand function.
• To provide insights for vocational assessment, rehabilitation planning, and return-to-work (RTW) decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 307 healthy adults aged 18-65.
• Evaluation of hand performance using six JTHFT subtests (excluding sentence writing), recording task completion times.
• Statistical analysis including paired sample t-tests and multiple linear regression to assess predictive relationships.

Main Results:

• Non-dominant hand performance significantly predicted dominant hand performance across all tested JTHFT subtests (p < 0.001).
• Strong predictive relationships were observed in gross motor tasks, such as lifting objects (adjusted R² = 0.642-0.674).
• Non-dominant hand performance remained the strongest predictor, despite task-specific effects of age, sex, and handedness.

Conclusions:

• Non-dominant hand function is a significant predictor of dominant hand performance on JTHFT tasks, especially in gross motor activities.
• These findings emphasize the importance of assessing non-dominant hand function in occupational settings.
• The results have direct implications for improving occupational assessments and return-to-work programs.