Muscular responses to handle perturbation with different glove condition

Abstract

Effect of wearing gloves on timely muscle reaction to stabilize handle perturbation was investigated. Thirteen adults gripped a horizontal overhead handle to which an upward force was applied at a random time. Muscle reaction time, integrated EMGs for eight muscles, and handle displacement were compared among three glove conditions affecting the coefficient of friction (COF=0.32, 0.50, and 0.74 for the polyester glove, bare hand, and latex glove, respectively). Lower COF increased the integrated EMGs and handle displacement until stabilization of the perturbed handle. The low-friction glove resulted in 16% (p=.01) greater muscular effort and 20% (p=.002) greater handle displacement, compared to the high-friction glove. Muscle reaction time was not influenced by glove condition. Cutaneous sensation and reflex eliciting forearm muscle activity appear to play an important role in detecting and responding to the perturbation initially, while the forearm and latissimus dorsi muscles primarily contribute to stabilizing the perturbed handle compared to other shoulder and upper arm muscles. Therefore, low-friction gloves, cutaneous sensory dysfunction, and weakened forearm and latissimus dorsi muscles may jeopardize persons’ ability to stabilize a grip of a handle after perturbation.