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CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1791527
Original Article

Exploring Hand Function and Performance Disparities among Women in Varied Occupational Spheres: A Preliminary Report

Smitha Damodar 
1   Department of Physiotherapy, Yenepoya Physiotherapy College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Shivarama Bhat
2   Department of Anatomy, Yenepoya Medical College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Manikandan Natarajan
3   Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Abstract

Introduction The hand represents the most interactive aspect of the upper extremity. Previous research indicates that young individuals and females typically exhibit superior hand dexterity. Limited literature exists regarding the impact of occupations that require dexterous activities on hand function, potentially influencing the preservation of dexterity as individuals age.

Objectives This study sought to assess the hand dexterity, grip strength, and pinch strength of female beedi rollers involved in intricate tasks with those of female nonbeedi workers across different age brackets.

Materials and Methods This study in a community setting included a sample of 664 female participants, evenly distributed between two groups. The participants were further categorized into age brackets: 25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 to 64 years. Dexterity, grip strength, and pinch strength were assessed using Purdue Pegboard, Jamar hand dynamometer, and pinch meter, respectively.

Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics with mean and standard deviation; analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni test were done for multiple comparisons.

Results Manual dexterity scores, grip strength, and pinch strength were evaluated and recorded for all age groups among both beedi rollers and nonbeedi workers. Manual dexterity scores were higher in beedi rollers than nonbeedi workers for all age groups, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Similarly, grip strength and pinch strength scores were significantly greater in beedi rollers across all age groups (p < 0.05), except for pinch strength in the nondominant hands of participants aged 35 to 44 and 45 to 54 years of nonbeedi workers, where the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion Across all age brackets, beedi rollers exhibited superior manual dexterity, grip strength, and pinch strength compared with nonbeedi rollers. The elevated dexterity scores observed in beedi rollers aged 25 years and older suggest that occupations requiring dexterity may positively influence and maintain hand performance as individuals age, thus highlighting the potential benefits of dexterity-based occupations on aging.

Keywords

hand dexterity - Purdue Pegboard - grip strength - pinch strength - dexterity occupations

Authors' Contributions

All researchers contributed to the conception and design, acquisition of data or analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, and revising of the paper, and each agreed to be responsible for all aspects of this work. S.D. contributed to the conception, design, acquisition of data or analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, and revising of the paper. The manuscript was prepared and shared with all researchers for their suggestions and modifications, which were incorporated into the final version. S.B. and M.N. both contributed to the design (methodology), data analysis, interpretation of data, drafting, and revising of the research paper.


Statement of Institutional Review Board Approval and/or Statement of Conforming to the Declaration of Helsinki

Approval from the Scientific Review Board of Yenepoya Physiotherapy College and Ethics Committee, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), was obtained.




Publication History

Article published online:
08 October 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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