Correlation between the Ability to Manipulate a Touchscreen Device and Hand Strength and Manual Dexterity among Community-Living Older Individuals.

Michal Elboim-Gabyzon,Alexandra Danial-Saad

doi:10.3390/ijerph18179408

Abstract

Information regarding the relationship between the degree of hand function among the elderly as measured by traditional assessments and the ability to manipulate touchscreens is lacking. This study aimed to examine the correlation between the ability to manipulate a touchscreen device, as assessed using the touchscreen assessment tool (TATOO) (University of Haifa, Israel & Universetiy of Bologna, Italy), and hand strength and manual dexterity among independent community-living older individuals. Thirty-four community-living older adults (average age 79.4 ± 6.7 years) participated in single-session assessments lasting 45 min each. The assessment included hand strength measurement using the manual hand dynamometry and hydraulic pinch gauge, a functional dexterity test (FDT), and TATOO. No significant correlations were observed between most of the TATOO items (22 out of 26) and handgrip strength, pinch strength, and FDT results. Moderately significant correlations were demonstrated between the number of drag attempts in the “Drag to different directions” task and handgrip strength and manual dexterity (r value: −0.39, p value: 0.02; r value: 0.36, p value: 0.04, respectively). In addition, a moderately significant correlation was noted between the number of double taps and manual dexterity (r value: 0.32, p value: 0.07). These results indicate that more complex gestures that require greater accuracy (dragging task) or rapid movements (double tapping) are related to hand strength and manual dexterity. These results suggest that the manual gestures necessary for touchscreen operation entail unique and specific capabilities that are generally not captured by traditional tools. The clinical implication is that the hand function assessment toolbox should be expanded. Tools such as the TATOO should be used to capture skills required for touchscreen manipulation in the context of the modern digital milieu.

Highlights

Manual hand function decreases with normal aging due to the progressive degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal, vascular, and nervous systems [1,2,3]
This study aimed to examine the correlation between the performance of elderly individuals while operating a tablet and the results of traditional hand assessment tools, such as grip and pinch strength and the functional dexterity test (FDT) test
The present study indicated that touchscreen manipulation ability among healthy elderly individuals 65 years of age or older was not correlated with grip and pinch strength and manual dexterity

Summary

Introduction

Manual hand function decreases with normal aging due to the progressive degenerative processes of the musculoskeletal, vascular, and nervous systems [1,2,3]. The impact of these changes has a deleterious effect on the performance of basic and instrumental activities of daily life (BADL, IADL) [1,2]. Hand grip and knee extension strength are frequently used to objectively quantify age-related decline in body muscle strength (dynapenia) [4,7,8]. Hand function assessments often include the evaluation of age-related impairments in the sensory system and

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Discussion

Conclusion