Glove and Gender Effects on Muscular Fatigue Evaluated by Endurance and Maximal Voluntary Contraction Measures

Abstract

To investigate the effects of gender and gloves on hand fatigue, measured by the reduction in grip strength (delta MVC), the shift in time needed to reach maximal voluntary contraction (MVC; deltaTMC), and the maximal endurance time (MET). Information about the effect of gloves on muscle fatigue seems to be less plentiful than that on hand strength, dexterity, sensation, and so on. Ten male and 10 female volunteers served as participants. A task of sustained gripping until exhaustion was used as the designated fatigue protocol. Three gloved conditions were evaluated: bare-handed and single (Cotton 1) and double (Cotton 2) cotton gloves. After completion of the fatigue protocol, a greater reduction in grip strength was found for men than for women in both magnitude and percentage. Male deltaTMVC was significantly greater; that is, there was more delay in time needed to reach the MVC for men than for women when the fatigue protocol was completed. MET was longer for men than for women. During gloved conditions, except for the deltaMVC, glove use did not change any of the other responses. Specifically, the gloved effect on deltaMVC depended upon gender. Men had a greater reduction in grip strength and took longer to reach the MVC than did women after the fatigue protocol. Except for decreasing the deltaMVC, whether or not gloves were worn did not change any of the other responses. These data are useful for glove design, manufacture, and selection.