Influence of age, gender and dominance on wrist proprioception in healthy individuals

Proprioception is the perception of movement, posture and joint position. Several factors influence proprioception in healthy individuals. Wrist sensorimotor disturbances of the wrist has been implicated as a risk factor in several wrist pathologies. However, there has been limited literature to identify factors that may influence it. Purpose of the study is to find the effect of age, gender and hand dominance on wrist proprioception, and its relation with hand function in healthy individuals. Healthy individuals between the age group of 18 to 40 years, of either gender will be included and individuals who had any previously diagnosed wrist and hand pathologies like fractures, open wounds etc will be excluded in the study.

Wrist proprioception will be assessed using Active wrist joint position sense test. Goniometer will be used to measured the wrist angles. Participant will be shown reference wrist position with eyes closed by moving the wrist into 20 degree flexion. Angle will be memorized. Participant will be asked to reproduce the 20 degree flexion angle and it will be measured. Difference between two angles will be used as the joint position sense deficit criterion value. This same procedure will be applied with 20 degree wrist extension. This will be measured of both the hands. Mean of three trials will be recorded for both flexion and extension. Hand function will be assessed using Moberg Pickup test. The participant has to pick 12 small metallic objects and transfer them to a small container. Mean of 3 trials will be taken. This will be done with eyes open and eyes closed, of both the hands. SPSS version 16 will be used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics will be followed for demographic data like age, gender, hand dominance etc. Statistical analysis will be done using Pearson’s or Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient to find the correlation of age, gender and hand dominance, with wrist proprioception and hand function in healthy individuals.

The influence will help us understand the differences in wrist proprioception between genders and across age groups. Theses differences will help us design better preventive and rehabilitative strategies to address the deficits.