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Age-related and gender-related differences on hand dexterity in healthy and sports inactive older adults:
Anneke Schumacher1, Marlene Krumpolt2, Alexander Prinz2
1Institut III, Bereich: Sportwissenschaft, Lehrstuhl Sport und Technik/Bewegungswissenschaft, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Zschokkestr. 32, 39104, Magdeburg, Germany. anneke.schumacher@ovgu.de.
Background:
Although the population of older adults in our society is significantly older and more resilient than before, they also show age-related limitations in performance in all areas of motor function. Hand dexterity and eye-hand coordination are important factors for leading an independent life.
Aim:
This study investigates gender-related and age-related differences in hand dexterity and examines whether hand dexterity declines with age similar to upper extremity strength.
Methods:
Among 198 older adults (male = 61, aged 60-81 years), hand dexterity was assessed using 4 subtests of the motor performance series (MLS) by Schoppe, focusing on motor speed and eye-hand coordination accuracy. Strength was measured via hand dynamometry and a biceps curl test.
Results:
Gender-specific differences emerged in tasks involving grasping small objects (ANOVA test statistic: F (1, 190) = 4.52; p = 0.035; η2 = 0.023) despite their markedly different strength ratios between sexes (F (1, 190) = 254.09; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.572). Women aged 65 years and over showed age-associated declines in motor speed and finger dexterity with low (p < 0.05; Cohen's f = 0.23) and moderate precision pressure (p = 0.034; Cohen's f = 0.25), whereas men's hand strength significantly decreased.
Conclusion:
It remains uncertain whether these declines of hand dexterity are attributable to strength ratios or the natural processes of aging. In addition to strength training, interventions specifically targeting manual dexterity should be implemented to help preserve both movement speed and fine motor precision in older adults.
