Provisional norm and age group differences of controlled force exertion measurements by a computing sinusoidal target-pursuit system in Japanese male adults

Abstract

　This study aimed to examine age group and individual differences of the controlled force exertion test by sinusoidal waveforms and to propose a provisional norm in 207 male adults who were righthanded and aged 15 to 86 years (mean = 42.1±19.8 yrs). The subjects matched their submaximal grip strength to changing demand values, appearing with a sinusoidal waveform on the display of a personal computer. The subjects performed the controlled force exertion test three times with 1-min intervals (one trial lasted 40 s), after one practice trial using the dominant hand. A total of the differences between the demand value and the grip exertion value for 25 s was used as an evaluation parameter. The measurements showed a right-skewed distribution without a normal distribution. They showed a normal distribution after logarithmic transformation (W=0.09, p>0.05). The result of the analysis of variance showed significant differences in the means of each age group (F=16.43, p<0.05), and test performance tended to decrease after 50 years of age. Considering the abovestated age group difference, the norm of each age group was established. The controlled force exertion value by the sinusoidal waveform decreases markedly after 50 years of age. An individual’s controlled force exertion for the devised provisional norm was evaluated in this study.