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Category: Volume 06 Issue 09 September 2018
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Title: Motor Performance of Dominant and Non-dominant Hand in Right-handed and Left-handed Children

Authors: Karthik M, Mahantha M

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i9.25

Abstract

Handedness is a trait of unequal distribution of fine motor skills between the right and left hands. Earlier studies showed that the percentage of dominant hand superiority decreased with age, and the non-dominant hand motor performance improves and equalizes with the dominant hand. This is linked to the establishment of inter-hemispheric connectivity. This study explores the neuro-motor development pattern in children aged 10 to 14 years, This study evaluates and compares motor performance and hand preference in children aged 10-14  years thereby exploring the neuro-motor development pattern in this age group. 100 students (90 right-handed and 10 left-handed in accordance with the universal incidence of handedness) were the subjects. Three reliable measures of motor performance have been used in this study. Hand grip strength, finger tapping and hand steadiness were tested using dynamometer, mechanical tapper and arm-hand steadiness machine respectively. The results show that the dominant hand significantly outperforms the non-dominant hand on all three measures in the same individual. The study indicates that among children aged between 10 to 14 years, the lateral differences are still present. And suggest that the age group when the right-left differences decreases may be used as a marker for maturation of inter-hemispheric connectivity. This study also shows that the performance asymmetries between the dominant and non-dominant hand of left-handers are similar to that of right-handers. This may imply that the different patterns of lateralization (homogeneous and heterogeneous) and its extent have not been established in right- and left-handers of this age group.

Keywords: dominant hand, non-dominant hand, hand grip strength, finger tapping, hand steadiness.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Mahantha M

Dept. of Physiology, Kerala Medical College, Palakkad, Kerala, India

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