Abstract
To develop a measurement method of grip and load (lifting) forces produced during lifting a very light object, and to establish preliminary baseline data of force parameters in healthy young and elderly individuals. Two group design. University laboratory. Twenty healthy young and ten healthy elderly volunteers. Not applicable. A 6-g grip apparatus having three load force transducers was designed, and built. With additional weights, it could change in weight from 6 g to 200 g in 14 steps with sandpaper or rayon grip surface. The grip and load forces were measured during holding tasks, and grip force for static holding, slip force, a coefficient of friction, safety-margin force, and their inter- and intra-individual variability were evaluated. In both groups, static grip force, slip force, and safety-margin force had linear relationship with object weight, and these forces were greater for rayon than sandpaper. The safety-margin force expressed in percent of static grip force was about 80% for the 6-g condition in both surfaces, which decreased with weight in a curvilinear fashion to reach around 45% when lifting 200 g. Between the two groups, forces and variability were all greater for the elderly group (p < 0.05). The apparatus developed first time allowed evaluation of grip and load force coordination in a very light-weight range (< 100g). Within a limited number of healthy samples, baseline data of grip force parameters were established for a subsequent examination of distal motor function in stroke/Parkinson's/cerebellar patients.
Published Version
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