ArticleThe journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences2014
Dexterous manipulation is poorer at older ages and is dissociated from decline of hand strength.
Article in The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers.
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Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 50 citations in OpenAlex.
- Age-related changes in hand function - it's not just about muscle strength.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Review
- Loss of Fine Motor Dexterity and Reduced Oral Hygiene 15 Years After Diagnosis of Multifocal Motor Neuropathy with Screw-Retained Implant-Supported Rehabilitation: Literature Review and Case Report.Oral health & preventive dentistry · 2024Review
- Self-perceived oral health and orofacial appearance in older adults - an 18-year follow-up study in Karlskrona, Sweden.Acta odontologica Scandinavica · 2024Article
- Cobalt-doped zinc oxide based memristors with nociceptor characteristics for bio-inspired technology.RSC advances · 2024Article
- Older adults are impaired in the release of grip force during a force tracking task.Experimental brain research · 2024Article
- Task-dependent alteration of beta-band intermuscular coherence is associated with ipsilateral corticospinal tract excitability.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2023Article
- Examining Coroners' Recommendations for Health and Safety Management of Ageing Heavy Vehicle Drivers: A STAMP Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Association between Handgrip Strength and Periodontitis in Korean Adults Aged ≥30 Years: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014-2015).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Assessment of finger motor function that reflects the severity of cognitive function.Fujita medical journal · 2021Article
- Article
- Decrease in force steadiness with aging is associated with increased power of the common but not independent input to motor neurons.Journal of neurophysiology · 2018Article
- Expectation of movement generates contrasting changes in multifinger synergies in young and older adults.Experimental brain research · 2018Article
- Adult Gross Motor Learning and Sleep: Is There a Mutual Benefit?Neural plasticity · 2018Review
- Sex differences in leg dexterity are not present in elite athletes.Journal of biomechanics · 2017Article
- Characterization of the disruption of neural control strategies for dynamic fingertip forces from attractor reconstruction.PloS one · 2017Article
- Relationship between visuo-perceptual function and manual dexterity in community-dwelling older adults.Journal of physical therapy science · 2015Article
- Sleep-dependent motor memory consolidation in older adults depends on task demands.Neurobiology of aging · 2015Article
- Switching between hands in a serial reaction time task: a comparison between young and old adults.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2015Article
- Force Variability during Dexterous Manipulation in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Parkinson's Disease.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2015Article
- Outcome measures for hand function naturally reveal three latent domains in older adults: strength, coordinated upper extremity function, and sensorimotor processing.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe ability to dynamically control fingertip force vector magnitude and direction is critical for dexterous manipulation. We quantified the dynamic control of fingertip forces to examine how dexterous manipulation declines with age.
methodsThe strength-dexterity (SD) test measures fingertip forces during compression of a slender spring prone to instability and buckling. The greatest sustained compression (designed to be under 3 N), and force dynamics therein, have been shown to be simple and quick measures of dynamic dexterous manipulation ability. We measured pinch strength and strength-dexterity test in a cross-sectional population of 98 people from 18 to 89 years of age.
resultsDexterous manipulation ability is poorer at older ages, beginning in middle age (p < .001), with greater decline past 65 years of age. Fingertip force dynamics during spring compression and stabilization show a deterioration of neuromuscular control with age. Importantly, this novel detection of decline in dynamic manipulation ability is not correlated with, and thus cannot be entirely explained by, the known decline in pinch strength. We also measured standardized tests of dexterity in participants older than 45, and discuss how the strength-dexterity test uniquely captures features of sensorimotor capabilities for dexterous manipulation in this adult population.
conclusionsStarting in middle age, changes in the functional interactions among sensory, motor, and neural capabilities result in measurably poorer dynamic dexterous manipulation. This deterioration of neuromuscular control motivates and enables future studies to understand the physiological bases for this functional decline so critical to activities of daily living and quality of life.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.