Bergstra, S.A. (Sytske Anne) (2014) Age-related changes in low force finger pinch control: the influence of grip type, speed and surface stability on force variability. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
For the precise handling of objects the exact modulation of low fingertip forces is a prerequisite. Older adults can have difficulties in performing hand activities at submaximal force levels. This decline is thought to occur already in late middle-aged adults. The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of task demands on force variability when maintaining a low force precision pinch in young and late middle-aged adults. Participants produced low forces with different grip types (key pinch and pulp pinch), with and without time pressure, (self selected speed versus as fast as possible), against different surface stabilities (stationary versus deformable surface) and with varying compliance (high versus low resistance). Eight young (18-25 years) and nine late middle-aged adults (55-65 years) participated in this experiment. They were asked to pinch a small device containing two springs and to maintain a target force of 10% of maximum voluntary contraction several times. Surface stability of the device was manipulated by fixating or not fixating the device and by introducing springs of different compliance. No differences in force variability, defined as the coefficient of variation and root mean squared error around the target force, were found between the two age groups, providing no support for the hypothesis that an age-related decline in precision at low force already starts in late middle-aged adults. The coefficient of variation increased when pinching under time pressure. Task demands such as stability of the surface, spring compliance and grip type were not found to influence the force variability measures neither for the young nor the older adults.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Murgia, A. and Caljouw, S.R. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Mar 2022 08:29 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Mar 2022 08:29 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3003 |
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