The Influence of Lateral Dominancy on the Body Flexibilityfinger Distance

As the indices of body flexibility by Middle finger-Middle

Abstract

[Purpose] The concept of lateral dominance was used to examine the influence of exertion on the body flexibility of elderly individuals. [Subjects and methods] Subjects included 35 healthy right-handed elderly adults (10 men, 25 women) aged ?60 years. Measurement items included the distance between the tips of the middle fingers of both hands with the arms diagonally stretched behind the back (middle finger­middle finger distance [MMD]), forward reach in the long sitting position, and shoulder joint range of motion (ROM). In the MMD test, we compared the measured value with the left hand under the shoulder with that of the right hand under the shoulder. We also analyzed the correlation between the measured MMD value of the forward reach in the long sitting distance and the measured shoulder joint ROM; moreover, we analyzed the influence of the provided factor on MMD. [Results] The MMD did not differ significantly when the hand was placed over versus under the shoulder. We found significant correlations in measurements between the group in which the subjectsʼright hands were placed under their shoulders in internal and external rotation of the right shoulder joint and the group in which the subjectsʼleft hands were placed under their shoulders in internal and external rotation of the right and left shoulder joints. Internal rotation of the right shoulder joint was a factor in the group in which the subjectsʼright hands were placed under their shoulders. The external rotation of the right shoulder joint affected the measurements of the group in which the subjectsʼleft hands were placed under their shoulders. [Conclusion] Upper-extremity flexibility is affected by ROM on the individualʼs dominant side, and a decrease in flexibility with a decrease in use is suggested.