Dominant Right Hand Research Articles

The Application of Spinal Manipulation Results in Alterations in Thalamic Neural Metabolite among Patients Experiencing Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Abstract Background: In patients diagnosed with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NCLBP), discernable discrepancies in pain perception have been observed. This study endeavors to assess alterations in left thalamic metabolites in patients with NCLBP following spinal manipulation, utilizing proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Materials and Methods: A total of 16 individuals diagnosed with NCLBP and 16 healthy individuals volunteers of normal constitution (aged between 20 and 50 years) were recruited. All participants exhibited right-hand dominance. Before commencement of therapeutic intervention and at a 5-week interval thereafter, functional and radiological assessments were undertaken (Oswestry Disability Index, numerical rating scale, and 1H-MRS). The values were compared using independent and paired t tests. Results: Following spinal manipulation, the patients experienced notable reductions in pain and disability (P < 0.05). The treatment group demonstrated significant increases in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (Mio), and glutamate and glutamine (Glx) in the left thalamus region post-treatment compared with the baseline measures (P < 0.05). Before treatment, NAA, Cho, Glx, and Mio levels were significantly lower in the left thalamus of the patients compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in terms of metabolites were observed between the healthy control group and the patients after the treatment. Conclusion: In patients presenting with NCLBP, spinal manipulation has been observed to exert an effect on the brain, thereby inducing changes in thalamic metabolites.

Influence of cognition on the correlation between objective and subjective upper limb measures in people with multiple sclerosis.

A comprehensive assessment of upper limb (UL) function is mandatory in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), and the use of multiple objective and subjective measures is advisable. Findings on the role of cognitive impairment on the assessment of UL function are scant and inconclusive. The present study investigated the influence of cognitive function on the distribution of objective and subjective UL measures and on their association. In the cross-sectional study, subjects with a diagnosis of MS, age ≥ 18years, right-hand dominance, no presence of orthopedic UL impairment, or other neurological diseases were recruited. The assessment protocol included the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Box and Block Test (BBT), and hand grip strength (HGS), a validated PROM (MAM-36), and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Two hundred forty-six PwMS were recruited (158 females, mean age = 51.65 ± 13.45years; mean EDSS = 5.10 ± 1.88) Subject with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (SDMT ≤ - 2 SD of normative values) scored lower on the 9-HPT and higher on the BBT and MAM-36 when compared with subject with no cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment showed a small but significant effect on the association between 9-HPT scores and the MAM-36. Findings suggest that cognitive impairment is associated with subjects' performance on 9-HPT, BBT, and MAM-36 (but not HGS), resulting in scores indicating a poorer UL function. Interestingly, cognitive impairment slightly affected the congruence between subjective and objective UL measures, although only minor differences in the correlation pattern across groups reporting different cognitive performances emerged.

Association between baseline characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome and its relation to psychometric properties of the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire

Objectives: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) generally causes functional disabilities and consequently develops socioeconomic burdens for individuals and our community in the long run. The negative consequences are more recorded in developing nations. Therefore, early addressing the disorder is essential to eliminate the negative impacts on any health-care system. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with CTS attending the professorial surgical clinics at Teaching Hospital Jaffna. The demographic and clinical presentation while a self-reported Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) was used to assess the severity of symptoms and functional status of the wrist and hand. Results: This study involved 63 respondents whose mean age and body mass index were 55.4 ± 12.4 years and 25.6 ± 3.1, respectively. The larger proportion was female (74.6%) and the majority’s civil status was married (90.5%). Menial and skilled jobs were 46.6% and 31.7%, respectively, whereas the remaining were professionals. The right-hand dominance was 93.7%, although 57.1% had the right hand affected. There was a significant association (r = 0.739 and P = 0.0001) between the clinical tests and the severity of symptoms score. Conclusion: This study outcomes of CTSs severity and functional status with the BCTQ recommend that this tool and its scales indicate the association between CTSs baseline characteristics and impairments resulting from CTS in the clinical context.

Is the Acetabular Cup Orientation Different in Robot-Assisted and Conventional Total Hip Arthroplasty With Right-Handed Surgeons Using an Anterolateral Approach?

Introduction Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopaedic procedures. Survival rates from 90% at 10 years to 93% at 20 years have been reported in different studies. Differences in implant and patient characteristics can undoubtedly explain some of this variability observed in prosthesis durability, but the effect of surgical technique and implant orientation cannot be ignored. Therefore, many intraoperative methods (anatomic landmarks, intraoperative x-ray, fluoroscopy, navigation, and robotic surgery) have been attempted to avoid acetabular component malpositioning.Although postoperative computed tomography (CT) is accepted as the gold standard for the measurement of acetabular anteversion, it remains controversial in respect of costs and radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to examine how acetabular component orientation was affected in robotic and conventional THA operations performed by two surgeons with right-hand dominance. Material and methods The study included 113 primary THA operations performed on 113 patients between 2017 and 2022 in two groups: (i) robotic THA (Mako, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States) (55 patients) and (ii) conventional THA (58 patients). The patients comprised 51 males and 62 females. THA was performed on 54 right-side hips and 59 left-side hips. The operations were performed by two orthopaedic surgeons, each with 20 years of arthroplasty experience, on all the patients in the lateral decubitus position with an anterolateral approach. In all the cases, the orientation of the acetabular component was 40° inclination and 20° anteversion. Difficult THA procedures (patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), a history of hip surgery, revision THA, defect or deformity of the acetabulum, a history of scoliosis or lumbar posterior surgery, or those requiring proximal femoral osteotomy) were excluded from the study. Using the Liaw and Lewinnek methods, the acetabular component anteversion was measured on the radiographs taken in the optimal position postoperatively and the acetabular cup inclination angles were measured on the pelvis radiographs. The groups were compared using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U statistical tests. The limits were accepted as 40±5° for inclination and 20±5° for anteversion. Results No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of age, gender, or operated side. No statistically significant difference was determined between the optimal acetabular cup inclination angles of the robotic and conventional THA groups (p = 0.79). No statistically significant difference was determined between the optimal acetabular cup anteversion angles of the left and right conventional THA groups. Statistically significantly better results were determined in the robotic group in respect of acetabular cup anteversion (p<0,001). Conclusion The optimal orientation of the acetabular component is a key factor for successful THA. Otherwise, revision surgery is inevitable for reasons such as instability, impingement, or increased wear. The results of this study demonstrated that robotic surgery was superior to the conventional method in the placement of the acetabular component in the desired orientation.

KETERAMPILAN MOTORIK HALUS PADA ANAK KIDAL (STUDI KASUS PADA ANAK KIDAL USIA 6-7 TAHUN DI KELURAHAN MALAKA JAYA, DUREN SAWIT, JAKARTA TIMUR)

AbstrackThis study aims to determine and describe the fine motor skills of left-handed children ages 6-7 years old, in which include eye-hand coordination skills, fingers’ flexibility, hand strength, and arms’adaptability. This research was conducted in the Malaka Jaya, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, in May to July 2016. The method used is qualitative research case study approach. Instrument of collection data through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis used is based on Miles and Huberman report of reduction data, display data and verification data. The findings of research showed that left-handed children have good eye-hand coordination, in which include the coordination between the eyes with his left hand and his right hand. Left-handed children also have good fingers’ flexibility when using tools that are made for right-handed user to create objects, like scissors. Left-handed children have a greater strengthat left hand than right hand. Left- handed children have good adaptation in activities that are ethically deminding the use of the righ hand and manipulating objects that are made for right-handed users. At the imitation stage of left-handed children are retaining their own attitude when undertaken the activities though models using right-hand dominance. Keywords: Coordination, Flexibility, Strength, Adaptation, Imitation, Lefth-handed

Centrality and interhemispheric coordination are related to different clinical/behavioral factors in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a resting-state fMRI study

Eigenvector-Centrality (EC) has shown promising results in the field of Psychiatry, with early results also pertaining to ADHD. Parallel efforts have focused on the description of aberrant interhemispheric coordination in ADHD, as measured by Voxel-Mirrored-Homotopic-Connectivity (VMHC), with early evidence of altered Resting-State fMRI. A sample was collected from the ADHD200-NYU initiative: 86 neurotypicals and 89 participants with ADHD between 7 and 18 years old were included after quality control for motion. After preprocessing, voxel-wise EC and VMHC values between diagnostic groups were compared, and network-level values from 15 functional networks extracted. Age, ADHD severity (Connor’s Parent Rating-Scale), IQ (Wechsler-Abbreviated-Scale), and right-hand dominance were correlated with EC/VMHC values in the whole sample and within groups, both at the voxel-wise and network-level. Motion was controlled by censoring time-points with Framewise-Displacement > 0.5 mm, as well as controlling for group differences in mean Framewise-Displacement values. EC was significantly higher in ADHD compared to neurotypicals in the left inferior Frontal lobe, Lingual gyri, Peri-Calcarine cortex, superior and middle Occipital lobes, right inferior Occipital lobe, right middle Temporal gyrus, Fusiform gyri, bilateral Cuneus, right Precuneus, and Cerebellum (FDR-corrected-p = 0.05). No differences were observed between groups in voxel-wise VMHC. EC was positively correlated with ADHD severity scores at the network level (at p-value < 0.01, Inattentive: Cerebellum rho = 0.273; Hyper/Impulsive: High-Visual Network rho = 0.242, Cerebellum rho = 0.273; Global Index Severity: High-Visual Network rho = 0.241, Cerebellum rho = 0.293). No differences were observed between groups for motion (p = 0.443). While EC was more related to ADHD psychopathology, VMHC was consistently and negatively correlated with age across all networks.

Physiotherapeutic Rehabilitation of a 48-Year Male with Buccal Mucosa Carcinoma of Squamous Cell: A Case Report

Buccal mucosa carcinoma of squamous cell is an uncommon kind of oral cavity cancer that is known to be dangerous. It's also linked to a high probability of local regional recurrence, and it's more likely in persons who chew tobacco and/or smoke, whether or not they drink alcohol. A 48-year patient is an elderly man who works as a farmer, mesomorphic built with right-hand dominance came to the tertiary care hospital with complaints of painful ulcers in upper left Jaw's front portion, which was relatively small initially and further increases to 6 x 4 cm approx., since last 4 months. Patient was complaining of pain, difficulty in mastication and manipulations etc. He has history of kharra chewing and tobacco chewing since last 10 years. With these complaints patient has come to the oral surgery department with buccal mucosa skin involvement and underwent surgery as compartmental resection of lesion, Modified Radical neck dissection and segmental mandibulectomy. Following surgical procedure patient has complaints of discomfort, limitation of movements at the operated site, chest pain, and limited mouth opening. For these complaints, programmed physiotherapy treatment was given to the patient which mainly concentrates on mouth opening and increasing range of motion of affected side.

Physiotherapy Rehabilitation in Subject with Scapular Osteochondroma: A Case Report

Introduction: The most prevalent benign tumour affecting the metaphysis of long bone is osteochondroma, a form of cartilaginous tumour. Solitary or multiple osteochondromas can prevail.Hereditary multiple exostosis (HME) or familial osteochondromatosis is the multiple variant, which is an autosomal dominant syndrome.&#x0D; Case Presentation: A 35-year old female with right-hand dominance was referred todepartment of physiotherapy. On palpation small nodular swelling of marble size was present in left axilla. X-rays findings showed increased scapular mass and ribs were compressed laterally.&#x0D; Discussion: The most widespread benign tumour is osteochondroma. In 3.0-6.4 percent of all instances, the scapula is implicated. The osteochondroma normally develops on the scapula's anterior aspect. The scapula osteochondroma induces pain and a grating sound when the scapula is moved. Mechanic irritation of muscle, tendon, or soft tissue, emergence of a pseudoaneurysm or bursa, fracture, or malignant transformation are all causes of symptoms.&#x0D; Conclusion: Osteochondroma is a common benign tumor. Management of osteochondroma is important to improve the quality of life. Physiotherapy plays an important role in managing Scapular osteochondroma.

REHABILITATION OF PATIENT WITH VARICOSE VEIN ALONG WITH SUBCUTANEOUS CALCANEAL BURSITIS

Varicose veins are permanently dilated tortuous and elongated path causing abnormal circulation. The varicose vein is the most common condition among females. The prevalence of varicose veins shows that females are more affected by it. In India, it is most common in females due to long-standing household work. Varicose veins are classified according to the long great saphenous vein varicosity, short/small saphenous vein varicosity, and varicose veins due to perforator incompetence. The calcaneal spur is also known as a heel spur and it occurs due to a bony outgrowth that is present in the heel bone. The heel spur is located at the back of the heel or under the sole. The spur occurring in the back of the heel is often associated with Achilles tendinopathy and the spur under the sole is associated with plantar fasciitis. A 55-year-old female with right-hand dominance came with complaints of pain in both the lower limb, pain in the neck region, and heel pain with these complaints patient was referred for physiotherapy after Ayurveda treatment. The patient presented with a history of osteoarthritis 5 years back, following which she started having pain in both the lower limb and heel. Patient were diagnosed with varicose vein and calcaneal spur with cervical radiculopathy. Therapeutic intervention for the patient comprised of patient education, thermotherapy, ultrasound, TENS, strengthening exercises, and range of motion exercises. The outcome of all this intervention showed improvement in function. Early physiotherapy intervention after diagnosis should be started to improve quality of life, activities of daily living, and prevent chronic disability.

Bimanual coordination associated with left- and right-hand dominance: testing the limb assignment and limb dominance hypothesis

In an experiment conducted by Kennedy et al. (Exp Brain Res 233:181–195, 2016), dominant right-handed individuals were required to produce a rhythm of isometric forces in a 2:1 or 1:2 bimanual coordination pattern. In the 2:1 pattern, the left limb performed the faster rhythm, while in the 1:2 pattern, the right limb produced the faster pattern. In the 1:2 pattern, interference occurred in the limb which had to produce the slower rhythm of forces. However, in the 2:1 condition, interference occurred in both limbs. The conclusion was that interference was not only influenced by movement frequency, but also influenced by limb dominance. The present experiment was designed to replicate these findings in dynamic bimanual 1:2 and 2:1 tasks where performers had to move one wrist faster than the other, and to determine the influence of limb dominance. Dominant left-handed (N = 10; LQ = − 89.81) and dominant right-handed (N = 14; LQ = 91.25) participants were required to perform a 2:1 and a 1:2 coordination pattern using Lissajous feedback. The harmonicity value was calculated to quantify the interference in the trial-time series. The analysis demonstrated that regardless of limb dominance, harmonicity was always lower in the slower moving limb than in the faster moving limb. The present results indicated that for dominant left- and dominant right-handers the faster moving limb influenced the slower moving limb. This is in accordance with the assumption that movement frequency has a higher impact on limb control in bimanual 2:1 and 1:2 coordination tasks than handedness.

Characterizing hemodynamic response alterations during basketball dribbling.

Knowledge on neural processing during complex non-stationary motion sequences of sport-specific movements still remains elusive. Hence, we aimed at investigating hemodynamic response alterations during a basketball slalom dribbling task (BSDT) using multi-distance functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in 23 participants (12 females). Additionally, we quantified how the brain adapts its processing as a function of altered hand use (dominant right hand (DH) vs. non-dominant left hand (NDH) vs. alternating hands (AH)) and pace of execution (slow vs. fast) in BSDT. We found that BSDT activated bilateral premotor cortex (PMC), supplementary motor cortex (SMA), primary motor cortex (M1) as well as inferior parietal cortex and somatosensory association cortex. Slow dominant hand dribbling (DHslow) evoked lower contralateral hemodynamic responses in sensorimotor regions compared to fast dribbling (DHfast). Furthermore, during DHslow dribbling, we found lower hemodynamic responses in ipsilateral M1 as compared to dribbling with alternating hands (AHslow). Hence, altered task complexity during BSDT induced differential hemodynamic response patterns. Furthermore, a correlation analysis revealed that lower levels of perceived task complexity are associated with lower hemodynamic responses in ipsilateral PMC-SMA, which is an indicator for neuronal efficiency in participants with better basketball dribbling skills. The present study extends previous findings by showing that varying levels of task complexity are reflected by specific hemodynamic response alterations even during sports-relevant motor behavior. Taken together, we suggest that quantifying brain activation during complex movements is a prerequisite for assessing brain-behavior relations and optimizing motor performance.

Box and block test, hand grip strength and nine-hole peg test: correlations between three upper limb objective measures in multiple sclerosis.

Limited data are available in the literature for upper limb impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to report the distribution of values of hand grip strength (HGS), of the box and block test (BBT) and of the nine-hole peg test (9HPT) correlated with demographic and clinical data in subjects with MS. This study involved five Italian neurological centres. The inclusion criteria were age ≥18, MS diagnosis, stable disease phase, right-hand dominance. All subjects underwent HGS, BBT and 9-HPT evaluation. In all, 202 subjects with MS were enrolled: 137 females; mean age 48.4years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4.17; mean disease duration 14.12years; disease course 129 relapsing-remitting, 21 primary progressive and 52 secondary progressive MS subjects; mean right HGS 25.3 kg, left 23.2 kg; mean right BBT 45.7 blocks, left 44.9 blocks; mean right 9-HPT 30.7 s, left 33.4 s. All results were statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls. HGS, BBT and 9-HPT were associated with age, EDSS and disease duration, whilst disease course correlated with BBT and 9-HPT. The BBT and 9-HPT scores significantly differed according to level of disability (EDSS ≤3.0, 3.5-5.5, ≥6.0). Hand grip strength and BBT value distribution in a large MS population is reported. Correlations between HGS, BBT and 9-HPT were generally low.

Characteristics of rib fractures in young abused children.

The presumed mechanism of rib fractures in abuse is violent grasping of the torso causing anterior-posterior chest compression. We hypothesized an asymmetrical distribution of rib fractures in abused infants given the greater incidence of right-hand dominance within the general population. The objective of this study was to characterize rib fractures in abused children, particularly sidedness; additionally, we evaluated the sidedness of other abusive skeletal fractures. We reviewed medical records from abused children (0-18months old) with rib fractures. We also retrospectively reviewed their radiographs to determine characteristics of rib fractures (number, side, rib region, level, acuity) and other skeletal fractures (number, side, location), as well as differences in the distribution of rib and other skeletal fractures. A total of 360 rib fractures were identified on 273 individual ribs involving 78 abused children. Sixty-three children (81%) had multiple rib fractures. There was a significantly greater number of left-side rib fractures (67%) than right-side fractures (P<0.001). Fractures were most often identified in the posterior and lateral regions and mid level of the ribcage (Ribs 5 through 8). Fifty-four percent of subjects had other skeletal fractures; these non-rib fractures were also predominantly on the left side (P=0.006). In our study of abused children, there was a higher incidence of rib fractures in the posterior, lateral and mid-level locations. Additionally, we found a predominance of left-side rib and other skeletal fractures. Further research is needed to understand whether factors such as perpetrator handedness are associated with these unequal distributions of fractures in abused children.

Clinical Profile of Patients with Manus Fracture Caused by Firecracker Blast

Background: Fireworks are traditionally used by various cultures or groups for celebrations. Estimated 10,000 to 12,600 people are injured because of fireworks in America every year. The type of fireworks that cause the highest injury is firecrackers with the incidence rate of 30% to 67% of all cases of injury due to fireworks. Indo­nesia is a country with the largest Muslim popu­lation in the world and firecrackers are often used to welcome Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. This study aimed to report the Clinical pro­file of patients with manus fracture caused by firecracker blast. Case Presentation: The case study was taken from patients of Karima Utama Surgical Hos­pital, Surakarta, Indonesia, during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (from May 14 to June 15) 2018. A total of 36 patients were fractured due to firework explosions recorded in medical records during that period. Data such as gender, age and fracture diagnosis were collected in this study. Results: Males have a higher prevalence of 28 (78%) than female 8 (22%), with the highest group age between 11 to 20 years with 11 cases (31%) and more than 60 years being the lowest age group with 2 (6 %) cases of a total of 36 res­pon­dents. The right hand as the dominant hand has an injury incidence rate of 31 (86%) com­pa­red to the left hand 5 (14%) and more often oc­curs single fracture 22 (61%) compared to mul­ti­ple fractures 14 (39%) including the amputated phalanx. Conclusion: Our study showed 36 patients had fractures of the manus due to firecrackers, with the majority of male victims 28 (78%) and single manus fractures 22 (61%) with the right-hand dominance at the age between 11 to 20 years. Keywords: manus fracture, firecracker Correspondence: Pamudji Utomo. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Prof. Dr. R. Soeharso Orthopedics Hospital, Surakarta. Email: utomodr­@ya­hoo.­com. Indonesian Journal of Medicine (2020), 05(01): 57-62 https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2020.05.01.09

Are Footedness and Lateral Postures Better Predictors of Hemispheric Dominance Than Handedness: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire-Based Clinical and Pedigree Study.

Objective Approximately 9 out of 10 individuals show right-hand dominance. The remaining 10% include left-hand dominant and mixed handed/ambidextrous individuals. Laterality, lateral postures or lateral preference is defined by various authors as the most comfortable posture that an individual prefers to assume. The current study aims at finding the distribution of these lateral postures and their correlation with handedness/dominant side. Materials and Methods The study was done in medical and nursing students in the age group 18 to 22 years. The patients were asked to fill a self-assessment questionnaire to determine handedness and footedness. The laterality traits were observed by asking the patients to do by themselves after an untailored demonstration. Statistical Analysis The relationship between study parameters was assessed using Chi-square test. Pearson’s correlation test was done to assess the strength of association between comfort ratings of the various laterality postures. Results In our study, 96.5% were right handed and 79.9% of patients were right footed. Also, 50.8% preferred right-hand clasping, 53.9% preferred left-arm folding, and 60.6% preferred right-leg folding. A statistically significant correlation was seen between foot preference and lateral postures and arm folding and hand clasping (p < 0.05). A significant association was also found between handedness and positive history of retraining. Sidedness did not follow any Mendelian pattern of inheritance. Conclusions Handedness is affected by genetic and environmental factors. Since cultural and traditional practices can affect the lateral postures and handedness, it is important to know the relationship between laterality postures and sidedness and the impact of retraining on them. These postures are measures of cerebral dominance and are clinically important.

Children, Young Adults, and Older Adults Choose Different Fast Learning Strategies.

The aim of the study was to establish whether there were differences in speed-accuracy movement learning strategies between children, young adults, and older adults. A total of 30 boys, 30 young adult men, and 30 older men were seated in a special chair at a table with a Dynamic Parameter Analyzer 1. Participants had to perform a speed-accuracy task with the right-dominant hand. It may be assumed that the motor variables of children are more prone to change during the fast learning process than those of young adults and older adults and that the development of internal models is more changeable in children than in young adults and the older adults during the fast adaptation-based learning process.

On the Neurocircuitry of Grasping: The influence of action intent on kinematic asymmetries in reach-to-grasp actions.

Evidence from electrophysiology suggests that nonhuman primates produce reach-to-grasp movements based on their functional end goal rather than on the biomechanical requirements of the movement. However, the invasiveness of direct-electrical stimulation and single-neuron recording largely precludes analogous investigations in humans. In this review, we present behavioural evidence in the form of kinematic analyses suggesting that the cortical circuits responsible for reach-to-grasp actions in humans are organized in a similar fashion. Grasp-to-eat movements are produced with significantly smaller and more precise maximum grip apertures (MGAs) than are grasp-to-place movements directed toward the same objects, despite near identical mechanical requirements of the two subsequent (i.e., grasp-to-eat and grasp-to-place) movements. Furthermore, the fact that this distinction is limited to right-handed movements suggests that the system governing reach-to-grasp movements is asymmetric. We contend that this asymmetry may be responsible, at least in part, for the preponderance of right-hand dominance among the global population.

Normative data and inter-examiner reliability of the upper quarter Y-balance test

Background/Aims Physical performance measures, such as the lower quarter Y-balance test, can be used to determine performance ability or functional limitations. The aim of this study was to establish a normative data set for the upper quarter Y-balance test and evaluate inter-rater reliability. Methods Healthy participants, with no current upper extremity complaint or balance issues, were recruited. Participants undertook the upper quarter Y-balance test by reaching in three directions: medial; superolateral; and inferolateral. Each participant completed three reaches on each side. The mean of the second and third reach distances was used for the analysis and reach distance was normalised to limb length. Results Mean participant age was 24.3 (± 5.6) years. Statistically significant differences between males and females were observed for all reach directions (both raw and normalised data), with large to very large effect sizes (P&lt;0.001, effect size (r)=0.82–1.92). Results showed statistically significant differences between left- and right-hand dominance with left inferolateral reach (P=0.038, z=−2.076, r=0.21). Inter-rater reliability was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (3,1) of 0.98. Conclusions The results suggest that males have a statistically significantly larger reach in all directions and that participants reach significantly further when testing the dominant arm versus the non-dominant arm. The data presented here provide researchers with a substantive normative data set that will allow for comparison with symptomatic populations.

The daily grind: Sex- and age-related activity patterns inferred from cross-sectional geometry of long bones in a pre-Columbian muisca population from Tibanica, Colombia.

Daily activities involve biomechanical strains acting on skeletal structures. This study identifies differences in activity patterns between males and females, and between young, middle, and older aged individuals within an excavated Muisca skeletal sample from the Eastern Andes region of Northern South America. The Tibanica archaeological site (AD 1000-1400) is located at 2600 masl on the Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia. Cross-sectional geometric analysis of femurs from 63 individuals and paired-humerii from 33 individuals was used to examine bone size (TA), strength (J) and diaphyseal shape (Imax /Imin , Ix /Iy ). The findings indicate both age- and sex-related differences in activity patterns. An emphasis on upper body strength and robusticity was observed in the females, while males performed more strenuous work using their lower bodies, suggesting gender-based differences in labor. Men showed significant asymmetry in their humerii, with most showing right-hand dominance for upper body activities, while females showed high levels of humeral symmetry indicating similar levels of biomechanical stress for both arms. Female femoral diaphyseal shape changes with age, suggesting more mobility in youth and decreased mobility in middle and older ages. These results suggest that daily life may have been structured through patterns of routine labor that united and divided particular age and sex groups. Cross-sectional geometry data indicate women likely spent significant time and energy preparing food, especially grinding maize or other foods, while men may have done more long-distance walking potentially to work in agricultural fields or procure other resources.

Functional anatomy of the hand: prevalence of the linburg–Comstock anomaly in a young saudi population

Objectives: Linburg–Comstock (LC) anomaly is a developmental defect, characterized by flexion of thumb causing flexion of the index finger with pain in the wrist and forearm due to a tendinous interconnection between the flexor pollicis longus and flexor digitorum profundus. Methods: We carried out a random cross-sectional study in 2016. Undergraduate students were recruited; we excluded those with inflammation, hand or forearm trauma or surgery. Data were analyzed descriptively and categorically using Microsoft Excel and SPSS-20. Results: The study included 331individuals; 164 (49.5%) were male, and 167 (50.5%) were female, out of which 130 (39%) had LC anomaly. The mean age was 23 years (standard deviation ± 5.3). LC anomaly was found bilaterally in 43 (12.9%), in the right hand in 51 (15.4%) and in the left hand in 35 (10.5%). It was found bilaterally in females in 17 (10.1%) participants, and in males in 26 (15.8%), P = 0.37. The right-hand dominance was found in 294 (89%) versus left-hand in 37 (11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of LC anomaly was 39%, which matches with the global prevalence, the males showed slightly more prevalence of bilateral LC anomaly. The right-hand dominance was found in 89% as opposed to 11% having left-hand dominance.