Ranges of dynamic motion of the wrist in healthy young and middle-aged men

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 35; no. 12; p. 1467
• Main Authors: Ojima, H, Miyake, S, Kumashiro, M, Togami, H, Suzuki, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motion; Wrist - physiology
• ISSN: 0014-0139
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139208967416

The difference in the range of dynamic motion of the wrist between young and middle-aged men was studied. To analyse wrist function easily, a new quantitative evaluation technique for wrist circumduction using a biaxial flexible electrogoniometer was introduced. A phase plane was made from two-channel signals of the electrogoniometer, and the 'ROM (range of motion) Index' for wrist circumduction was defined. Twelve healthy young men (age 19-31 years) and twelve healthy middle-aged men (age 45-63 years) were studied. Under forearm fixed conditions, there was no difference of the ROM Index between the two age groups. A significant decrease of the ROM Index in the middle-aged group was found in the non-dominant wrists without forearm fixation. The four quadrantal analysis of wrist circumduction clarified that this difference appeared especially in the radiodorsal direction. These results suggest that in the middle-aged men, the motor function involving the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints does not decrease, but that for the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in the non-dominant side drops.