Dominant Index Finger Research Articles

Visual feedback and motor memory contributions to sustained motor control deficits in autism spectrum disorder across childhood and into adulthood.

Background Autistic individuals show deficits in sustained fine motor control which are associated with an over-reliance on visual feedback. Motor memory deficits also have been reported during sustained fine motor control in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The development of motor memory and visuomotor feedback processes contributing to sustained motor control issues in ASD are not known. The present study aimed to characterize age-related changes in visual feedback and motor memory processes contributing to sustained fine motor control issues in ASD. Methods Fifty-four autistic participants and 31 neurotypical (NT) controls ages 10-25 years completed visually guided and memory guided sustained precision gripping tests by pressing on force sensors with their dominant hand index finger and thumb. For visually guided trials, participants viewed a stationary target bar and a force bar that moved upwards with increased force for 15s. During memory guided trials, the force bar was visible for 3s, after which participants attempted to maintain their force output without visual feedback for another 12s. To assess visual feedback processing, force accuracy, variability (standard deviation), and regularity (sample entropy) were examined. To assess motor memory, force decay latency, slope, and magnitude were examined during epochs without visual feedback. Results Relative to NT controls, autistic individuals showed a greater magnitude and steeper slope of force decay during memory guided trials. Across conditions, the ASD group showed reduced force accuracy (β = .41, R 2 = 0.043, t 79.3 =2.36, p = 0.021) and greater force variability (β=-2.16, R 2 = .143, t 77.1 =-4.04, p = 0.0001) and regularity (β=-.52, R 2 = .021, t 77.4 =-2.21, p = 0.030) relative to controls at younger ages, but these differences normalized by adolescence (age x group interactions). Lower force accuracy and greater force variability during visually guided trials and steeper decay slope during memory guided trials were associated with overall autism severity. Conclusions Our findings that autistic individuals show a greater rate and magnitude of force decay than NT individuals following the removal of visual feedback indicate that motor memory deficits contribute to fine motor control issues in ASD. Findings that sensorimotor differences in ASD were specific to younger ages suggest delayed development across multiple motor control processes.

Fingertip light touch contact increases anteroposterior limits of stability in healthy young and older adults

BackgroundThe limit of stability (LoS), an index of stance balance ability, is reduced in older adults. Although contacting an earth-fixed external surface through fingertips’ light touch improves older adults’ stance balance control, its effects on the LoS in this population are unclear. Research questionDoes light touch increase the LoS and reduce postural sway in the LoS? MethodsThis study included 20 young adults (11 women and 9 men, mean age = 20.6 years) and 15 community-dwelling older adults (8 women and 7 men, mean age = 74.5 years). The position and path length of the center of pressure (CoP) during quiet standing (QS) and the anterior and posterior LoS (A-LoS and P-LoS, respectively) were measured using a force platform under two touch conditions (no-touch condition and light-touch condition). In light-touch condition, participants placed the tip of their dominant index finger on a load cell, which had an applied force of <1 N. ResultsIn both touch conditions, the older group had a more limited CoP position in the anteroposterior LoS and a longer CoP path length in the QS and LoS than the younger group. In both participant groups, the light-touch condition showed a wider CoP position in the anteroposterior LoS and a shorter CoP path length in the QS and LoS than the no-touch condition. SignificanceLight touch increases the anteroposterior LoS and decreases postural sway in the LoS. Therefore, contacting an external object by fingertips’ light touch may be an effective training protocol to increase the LoS in older adults.

Head movements induced by voluntary neck flexion stabilize sensorimotor synchronization of the finger to syncopated auditory rhythms.

Head movements that are synchronized with musical rhythms often emerge during musical activities, such as hip hop dance. Although such movements are known to affect the meter and pulse perception of complex auditory rhythms, no studies have investigated their contribution to the performance of sensorimotor synchronization (SMS). In the present study, participants listened to syncopated auditory rhythms and flexed their dominant hand index finger in time with the perceived pulses (4/4 meters). In the first experiment (Exp. 1), the participants moved their heads via voluntary neck flexion to the pulses in parallel with finger SMS (Nodding condition, ND). This performance was compared with finger SMS without nodding (Without Nodding condition, WN). In the second experiment (Exp. 2), we investigated the specificity of the effect of head SMS on finger SMS confirmed in Exp. 1 by asking participants to flex their bilateral index fingers to the pulses (Bimanual condition, BM). We compared the performance of dominant hand finger SMS between the BM and ND conditions. In Exp. 1, we found that dominant hand finger SMS was significantly more stable (smaller standard deviation of asynchrony) in the ND versus WN condition (p < 0.001). In Exp. 2, dominant hand finger SMS was significantly more accurate (smaller absolute value of asynchrony) in the ND versus BM condition (p = 0.037). In addition, the stability of dominant hand finger SMS was significantly correlated with the index of phase locking between the pulses and head SMS across participants in the ND condition (r = -0.85, p < 0.001). In contrast, the stability of dominant hand finger SMS was not significantly correlated with the index of phase locking between pulses and non-dominant hand finger SMS in the BM condition (r = -0.25, p = 0.86 after multiple comparison correction). These findings suggest that SMS modulation depends on the motor effectors simultaneously involved in synchronization: simultaneous head SMS stabilizes the timing of dominant hand finger SMS, while simultaneous non-dominant hand finger SMS deteriorates the timing accuracy of dominant hand finger SMS. The present study emphasizes the unique and crucial role of head movements in rhythmic behavior.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Postoperative Complications Following Open A1 Pulley Release for a Trigger Finger or Thumb

Although A1 pulley release is an effective treatment to reduce pain and improve hand function, complications may occur. More insight into risk factors for complications is essential to improve patient counseling and potentially target modifiable risk factors. This study aimed to identify factors associated with complications following A1 pulley release. Patients completed baseline questionnaires, including patient characteristics, clinical characteristics, and the Michigan Hand outcomes Questionnaire. We retrospectively reviewed medical records to identify complications classified using the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measurement Complications in Hand and Wrist conditions tool. Grade 1 complications comprise treatment with additional hand therapy, splinting, or analgesics, grade 2 treatment with antibiotics or steroid injections, grade 3A minor surgical treatment, grade 3B major surgical treatment, and grade 3C complex regional pain syndrome. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the contribution of patient characteristics, clinical characteristics, and patient-reported outcome measurement scores to complications. Of the included 3,428 patients, 16% incurred a complication. The majority comprised milder grades 1 (6%) and 2 (7%) complications, followed by more severe grades 3B (2%), 3C (0.1%), and 3A (0.1%) complications. A longer symptom duration (standardized odds ratio [SOR], 1.09), ≥3 preoperative steroid injections (SOR, 3.22), a steroid injection within 3 months before surgery (SOR, 2.02), and treatment of the dominant hand (SOR, 1.34), index finger (SOR, 1.65), and middle finger (SOR, 2.01) were associated with a higher complication rate. This study demonstrates that ≥3 preoperative steroid injections and a steroid injection within 3 months before surgery were the most influential factors contributing to complications. These findings can assist clinicians during patient counseling and may guide preoperative treatment. We recommend that clinicians should consider avoiding steroid injections within 3 months before surgery and to be reluctant to perform >2 steroid injections. Prognostic II.

Trsper: a web-based application for Archimedes spiral analysis.

We built a web-based application of the Archimedes spiral exam that implements clinically validated spiral metrics and tested drawing instructions to define a clinical workflow. We designed an HTML5 and Javascript implementation of the spiral exam to run on mobile touchscreen devices. We then recruited 10 volunteers each for 2 experiments designed to validate the programmed spiral metrics and assess how instructions or drawing implement affect the results. In task one, volunteers drew 5 spirals each while following 6 different instruction sets (n=30 spirals each, n=300 spirals total) that varied by support of the drawing hand and tracing condition (either tracing a spiral template, drawing in-between it, or freehand). In task two, volunteers drew 5 spirals each while following 2 instruction sets and drawing using a stylus or their dominant index finger (n=20 spirals each, n=200 spirals total). Principal components analysis of calculated metrics revealed that the experiments grouped by instruction set and by subject. Mean Euclidean distance between experiments represented as 11-dimensional vectors revealed that consistency varied among instruction tasks and that drawing with a stylus produced more consistent results than did using the dominant index finger. Using experimental data and simulated abnormal spirals, we designed a decision support system that accurately identifies potentially abnormal spirals. We built and validated a robust digital implementation of the Archimedes spiral exam and recommend a sensitive and specific workflow on the basis of data gathered from healthy volunteers.

Presentation and Management Outcome of Glomus Tumors of the Hand.

To document the clinical presentation of glomus tumors of the hand and evaluate the outcome of complete surgical excision in terms of relief of symptoms, any postoperative nail deformities and tumor recurrence over a period of one year. This descriptive case series spanned over a period of twelve years. All patients of either gender and all ages who had histologically confirmed glomus tumors of the hands were included. All of them underwent surgical excision under local anesthesia. Out of 17 patients, majority (n=12; 70.58%) were females. The mean age was 41.17±13.7 years. The dominant hand was involved in 11 (64.70%) patients. There were 14 patients (82.35%) with subungual tumors whereas 3(17.64%) had volar pulp glomus tumors. The mean diagnostic delay was 18.88±9.3 months. The tumor size ranged from 2 mm to 1.1cm with a mean of 4.05±4.3mm. All the patients (n=17,100%) experienced complete symptomatic relief within 2-4 weeks after surgical excision. There were no postoperative nail deformities. There was no recurrence over a period of one year. Glomus tumors of the hands were more frequently found among women in their fourth and fifth decades. Dominant hand, index finger and distal phalanx represented the commonest affected anatomic locales. Majority of the tumors were subungual. Majority of the patients suffered over 12 months in distressful pain before being diagnosed. Complete surgical excision under local anesthesia provided rapid relief of the symptoms. Creation of awareness about the tumor among doctors as well as public would help to ensure early presentation to plastic surgeon, prompt diagnosis and hence avoidance of the prolonged periods of agonizing misery.

EEG-based texture roughness classification in active tactile exploration with invariant representation learning networks

During daily activities, humans use their hands to grasp surrounding objects and perceive sensory information which are also employed for perceptual and motor goals. Multiple cortical brain regions are known to be responsible for sensory recognition, perception and motor execution during sensorimotor processing. While various research studies particularly focus on the domain of human sensorimotor control, the relation and processing between motor execution and sensory processing is not yet fully understood. Main goal of our work is to discriminate textured surfaces varying in their roughness levels during active tactile exploration using simultaneously recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) data, while minimizing the variance of distinct motor exploration movement patterns. We perform an experimental study with eight healthy participants who were instructed to use the tip of their dominant hand index finger while rubbing or tapping three different textured surfaces with varying levels of roughness. We use an adversarial invariant representation learning neural network architecture that performs EEG-based classification of different textured surfaces, while simultaneously minimizing the discriminability of motor movement conditions (i.e., rub or tap). Results show that the proposed approach can discriminate between three different textured surfaces with accuracies up to 70%, while suppressing movement related variability from learned representations.

Aggressive Digital Papillary Adenocarcinoma Mimicking a Giant Cell Tumour – A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma (ADPAca) is a rare, underreported, and often misdiagnosed malignant tumour of the eccrine sweat gland, with high recurrence and metastatic potential. We present a case of a painless mass over the middle phalanx of the dominant index finger in a 51-year-old man. The mass was present for over 20 years, which had slowly increased in size. The patient only presented when it began to interfere with his profession as an electrician. The clinical presentation was consistent with a giant cell tumour. Histological diagnosis was of an ADPAca. Staging investigations were negative and he subsequently went on to have a ray amputation. The importance of high clinical suspicion of digit lesions is highlighted. No specific histologic features have been identified to predict recurrence or metastasis. We review the merits of performing sentinel node biopsy and alternative treatment options such as Moh’s micrographic surgery. We review the international literature to assess metastatic potential and follow-up requirements.

Examination of touch-coordinate errors of adolescents with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy at an aiming-tapping task.

This study aimed to investigate performance (touch-coordinate errors, inter-touch interval) of touch screen technology in adolescents with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) and healthy peers. This prospective case-control study included 31 adolescents. The participants consisted of 15 adolescents with CP in the USCP group and 16 age-matched healthy peers in the control group. All participants performed an aiming-tapping task with an Android tablet. Four sessions were randomly applied: visual feedback (VF) and no VF with the dominant hand's index finger (DHF), and VF and no VF with the non-dominant hand's index finger (NDHF). Inter-touch interval (ITI) and touch-coordinate errors (TCE) were calculated. There were significant differences between the groups for VF and no VF-NDHF TCE and ITI (respectively p= 0.001, p= 0.01, p= 0.001, p= 0.004) and VF and no VF-DHF TCE values (respectively p= 0.01, p= 0.008). When comparing the dominant and non-dominant hand in the USCP group, there was a significant difference on TCE with no VF (p= 0.01). This study provided insight into the touch screen performance of adolescents with USCP, who performed an aiming-tapping task with a tablet. Results showed that both affected and unaffected hand performance of touch screen tasks was impaired in adolescents with USCP.

Finger soaking enhances effects of light touch on reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

To compare sensitivity to light touch in children with developmental coordination disorder and those with typical development. Also, to investigate how changes/increases in sensitivity to light touch influence the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway in both groups, while controlling for the confounding effects of arm configuration. Twenty-six children with developmental coordination disorder and 26 typically developing children were enrolled in the study. To change/increase sensitivity to light touch, participants immersed their dominant index finger in a surfactant-water solution. Sensitivity to light touch was measured before and after soaking. Participants performed all conditions (no fingertip touch, light fingertip touch, and light fingertip touch after soaking) with the same arm configuration, while body sway was measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the children with developmental coordination disorder were less sensitive to light touch than typically developing children (p <0.05). For both groups, immersing a fingertip in surfactant-water solution increased sensitivity to light touch (p < 0.05). Finger soaking enhanced the effects of light fingertip touch on reducing body sway only in those children with developmental coordination disorder (p < 0.05). Finger soaking can be used as a rehabilitation strategy for promoting sensitivity to light touch, as well as for enhancing the effects of light fingertip touch in reducing body sway in children with developmental coordination disorder.

Age-related changes in TMS-based gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation during a unimanual simple and choice reaction time task.

Age-related changes in TMS-based gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation during a unimanual simple and choice reaction time task.

Use of real-time electronic Silicon diode extremity dose detectors; towards optimising monitoring and radiopharmacy technique

Extremity radiation doses are typically monitored using ring dosimeters worn at the base of the palmar side of the index finger. This measurement does not represent the maximum extremity doses received; however, fingertip dose can be estimated by multiplying by a factor of 3, as recommended by ICRP. Indeed, the literature reports a considerable factor range, between 1.5 and 7 and, furthermore, there is debate as to whether the non-dominant or dominant index finger should be monitored. Ring dosimeters provide monthly dose information but do not provide shorter term data which may inform on radiopharmacy technique optimisation. Accordingly, using ED3 Si diode Hp(0.07) electronic dosimeters, this study sought to establish optimum ring dosimeter placement, operator specific maximum extremity dose correction factors and to examine radiopharmacy operator technique towards optimising extremity dose. Si diode detectors were attached to the index fingertips of radiopharmacy operators, recording real-time dosimetry data at 2 s intervals. After an initial session, an educational discussion was carried out, reviewing dosimetry data and identifying potential areas for technique improvement. A subsequent radiopharmacy session was then monitored. After educational sessions we demonstrated a 35% and 48% reduction, respectively, in dose per unit activity for bone radiopharmaceutical kit and injection preparation, which together accounted for 60% of extremity doses received. This work will discuss the technique optimisation employed. Further, simultaneous dose measurement of fingertip and base of non-dominant index finger, together with ring dosimeter data, allowed for more accurate estimation of the maximum extremity dose received for each operator.

Reproducibility of corticokinematic coherence

Corticokinematic coherence (CKC) between limb kinematics and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals reflects cortical processing of proprioceptive afference. However, it is unclear whether strength of CKC is reproducible across measurement sessions. We thus examined reproducibility of CKC in a follow-up study.Thirteen healthy right-handed volunteers (7 females, 21.7 ± 4.3 yrs) were measured using MEG in two separate sessions 12.6 ± 1.3 months apart. The participant was seated and relaxed while his/her dominant or non-dominant index finger was continuously moved at 3 Hz (4 min for each hand) using a pneumatic movement actuator. Finger kinematics were recorded with a 3-axis accelerometer. Coherence was computed between finger acceleration and MEG signals. CKC strength was defined as the peak coherence value at 3 Hz form a single sensor among 40 pre-selected Rolandic gradiometers contralateral to the movement.Pneumatic movement actuator provided stable proprioceptive stimuli and significant CKC responses peaking at the contralateral Rolandic sensors. In the group level, CKC strength did not differ between the sessions in dominant (Day-1 0.40 ± 0.19 vs. Day-2 0.41 ± 0.17) or non-dominant (0.35 ± 0.16 vs. 0.36 ± 0.17) hand, nor between the hands. Intraclass-correlation coefficient (ICC) values indicated excellent inter-session reproducibility for CKC strength for both dominant (0.86) and non-dominant (0.97) hand. However, some participants showed pronounced inter-session variability in CKC strength, but only for the dominant hand.CKC is a promising tool to study proprioception in long-term longitudinal studies in the group level to follow, e.g., integrity of cortical proprioceptive processing with motor functions after stroke.

Differences of Cutaneous Two-Point Discrimination Thresholds Among Students in Different Years of a Chiropractic Program

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate if there were differences in the two-point discrimination (2-PD) of fingers among students at different stages of a chiropractic program. MethodsThis study measured 2-PD thresholds for the dominant and nondominant index finger and dominant and nondominant forearm in groups of students in a 4-year chiropractic program at the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Measurements were made using digital calipers mounted on a modified weighing scale. Group comparisons were made among students for each year of the program (years 1, 2, 3, and 4). Analysis of the 2-PD threshold for differences among the year groups was performed with analysis of variance. ResultsThe mean 2-PD threshold of the index finger was higher in the students who were in the higher year groups. Dominant-hand mean values for year 1 were 2.93 ± 0.04 mm and 1.69 ± 0.02 mm in year 4. There were significant differences at finger sites (P < .05) among all year groups compared with year 1. There were no significant differences measured at the dominant forearm between any year groups (P = .08). The nondominant fingers of the year groups 1, 2, and 4 showed better 2-PD compared with the dominant finger. There was a significant difference (P = .005) between the nondominant (1.93 ± 1.15) and dominant (2.27 ± 1.14) fingers when all groups were combined (n = 104). ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrated that the finger 2-PD of the chiropractic students later in the program was more precise than that of students in the earlier program.

Incidence of Glove Perforation During Hand Surgical Procedures

To determine the rate of glove perforation during hand surgery. We prospectively examined the rate of glove perforations among 10 fellowship-trained hand surgeons at our institution during a 6 week period. Gloves were tested for perforation using a water-fill technique at the conclusion of each surgical procedure. Surgeons recorded the presence of any glove perforations. Eleven perforations were identified in 10 gloves among 600 surgical procedures during the study period. The perforation rate per case was 1.5% (95% confidence interval, 0.78% to 2.8%). Forty percent of perforations (n= 4) occurred during fracture surgery. Other holes occurred during isolated carpal tunnel release (n= 3) or combined carpal tunnel and trigger finger release (n= 3). The perforation was noticed intraoperatively in only 2 gloves. The difference in perforation rate between single- and double-gloved procedures was not significant. There were no perforations in the inner glove of surgeons who double gloved. A total of 73% of holes (8 of 11) occurred on surgeons' index finger; 75% of these were on the dominant hand. The dominant thumb, non-dominant ring and nondominant little fingers each had a single perforation. The rate of glove perforation during hand surgery is low. Holes can occur even during soft tissue procedures of short duration. The dominant index finger appears to be at greatest risk for perforation. When they do occur, most often holes are not noticed by the operating surgeon. The baseline glove perforation rate is unknown. A high level of vigilance is required to maintain sterile technique.

両示指の受動的な対称・非対称運動におけるTMSを用いた皮質脊髄路興奮特性の解析

Bilateral information in primary motor cortices of human cerebral hemispheres is needed to produce simultaneous bilateral limb movement. The corpus callosum connecting homologous areas of cortex between the hemispheres is an important area to exert bilateral finger movements. It is unclear that the movement state of both fingers influences corticospinal excitability involving in contralateral movement. We measured corticospinal excitability during passive movement of both fingers using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the primary motor cortex. The subjects performed passive movement of fingers using servomotors. TMS was applied at the two movement states of maximum flexion and extension position on metacarpophalangeal joint (MP joint) of dominant index finger, respectively. There were three kinds of movement task of symmetry, asymmetry and one-finger movements in this experiment. In one-finger movement task, the highest motor evoked potential (MEP) in electromyogram was measured with TMS timing of maximum extension of MP joint angle. Moreover, MEP with maximum extension of MP joint was lowest in symmetry movement task, but the MEP was conversely lowest with maximum flexion in asymmetry movement task. These results suggested that MEP depended on MP joint angle and the corticospinal excitability was inhibited when contralateral MP joint angle was with maximum extension.

Handedness and index finger movements performed on a small touchscreen.

Many studies of right/left differences in motor performance related to handedness have employed tasks that use arm movements or combined arm and hand movements rather than movements of the fingers per se, the well-known exception being rhythmic finger tapping. We therefore explored four simple tasks performed on a small touchscreen with relatively isolated movements of the index finger. Each task revealed a different right/left performance asymmetry. In a step-tracking Target Task, left-handed subjects showed greater accuracy with the index finger of the dominant left hand than with the nondominant right hand. In a Center-Out Task, right-handed subjects produced trajectories with the nondominant left hand that had greater curvature than those produced with the dominant right hand. In a continuous Circle Tracking Task, slips of the nondominant left index finger showed higher jerk than slips of the dominant right index finger. And in a continuous Complex Tracking Task, the nondominant left index finger showed shorter time lags in tracking the relatively unpredictable target than the dominant right index finger. Our findings are broadly consistent with previous studies indicating left hemisphere specialization for dynamic control and predictable situations vs. right hemisphere specialization for impedance control and unpredictable situations, the specialized contributions of the two hemispheres being combined to different degrees in the right vs. left hands of right-handed vs. left-handed individuals.

Extended distally based DMCA flap in combination with autologous amputate skin transplantation as a salvage procedure for ring avulsion injury.

A 23-year-old male student presented to our clinic with a traumatic complex ring avulsion of his right dominant index finger. Clinical evaluation revealed a complete distal amputation of the DIP joint with a laceration of the soft tissue at the middle phalanx and a rupture of the FDP-2-tendon far proximally. We hereby present the patient’s clinical outcome after reconstruction with a distally based extended DMCA-II flap. To our own knowledge, this is the first report of an extended distally based DMCA flap for coverage of a class IVd ring avulsion injury in combination with autologous amputate skin transplantation.Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.

Visually guided targeting enhances bilateral force variability in healthy older adults

This study observed the effect of visual feedback on between-limb force variability relationships in young and older adults. Abduction force was examined in healthy young (n = 15, 25 ± 4 years) and older adults (n = 18, 71 ± 6 years) during simultaneous isometric contractions of both index fingers. Target forces ranged from 5% to 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), where force variability and first dorsal interosseus activity were measured while (1) subjects viewed visual targets for both index fingers, (2) a visual target was provided for the dominant index finger only, and (3) visual targets were removed for both index fingers during bilateral isometric contractions. When subjects were provided with bilateral visual feedback during simultaneous contractions at low forces (5% and 10% MVC), older adults produced greater force variability than younger subjects (p = 0.002). However, when bilateral visual feedback was removed, age-related differences in variability were no longer present. Between-limb force variability differences existed at higher force outputs (20% and 30% MVC) when visual feedback was removed for the nondominant limb during bilateral isometric index finger abduction (p = 0.002). The control of bilateral force variability is compromised in older adults when visuomotor processes are engaged. However, age-related differences in force variability are abolished when no task-related visual feedback is available, and isometric contractions are based on internally guided feedback.

Hand Sensibility, Strength, and Laxity of High-Level Musicians Compared to Nonmusicians

To determine whether musicians have more sensitive, stronger, and flexible hands than nonmusicians. A total of 100 musicians and 100 control subjects were assessed for 2-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament light touch, grip and pinch strength, and laxity. Musicians were included if enrolled as instrumental performance majors at a 4-year accredited conservatory of music. Nonmusician controls were university students who never or rarely engaged in playing an instrument. All subjects were between the ages of 18 and 28. The exclusion criterion was history of any hand condition, trauma, surgery, or diabetes. Statistical analyses were carried out using the t test, analysis of variance, and correlation coefficients as appropriate. High-level musicians in our cohort showed the same handedness (dominance) as the general population. The musicians were weaker than the nonmusicians. Male musicians were significantly weaker in pinch and grip bilaterally than nonmusicians, whereas female musicians were significantly weaker only in grip on the right/dominant side. Two-point discrimination was significantly less in musicians for the left/nondominant index, ring, and small fingers, and the right/dominant small and dominant index finger. Semmes-Weinstein testing was significantly better for the right/dominant digits, including the thumb, but not the left digits with the exception of the ring and nondominant middle and ring. There was no difference in laxity between the 2 groups. High-level musicians have, in general, more sensitive but weaker hands than nonmusicians, but the differences seem small and may not be clinically important.