Age-related Differences in Grip Strength Laterality in Male Elite Soft-tennis Players

Takahashi Kenji^1, and Shin-ichi Demura²

¹Aichi Gakusen University, Japan

²Kanazawa University, Japan

Cite this paper

Takahashi Kenji and Shin-ichi Demura. Age-related Differences in Grip Strength Laterality in Male Elite Soft-tennis Players. American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2016; 4(4):109-114. doi: 10.12691/AJSSM-4-4-5

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the grip strengths and laterality of dominant and non-dominant hands with respect to age among 468 male elite soft-tennis players who participated in a national athletic meet in Japan. The players ranged in age from 12 to 29 years and were classified into 12 groups according to age, with players older than 23 years old comprising a single group. Grip strength was measured twice in both hands, and the larger value for each hand was used as the representative value. We evaluated the difference in grip strength between the dominant and non-dominant hands as a variable. Statistical analysis identified significant differences between the 12-year-old group and all age groups over 14 years, and between the 13-year-old group and all age groups over 15 years. In addition, small differences were observed among age groups over 14 years. In conclusion, among male elite soft-tennis players who had participated in technical tennis training since childhood, grip strength laterality became remarkable at ages older than 14 years but generally remained constant at ages older than 17 years.

Keywords

upper limb strength, dynamometer, competitive racket sports

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

[1]	Nabetani T, Nishida T, Takeda M, Uchida I, Tachiya Y, Kusumoto Y, Osada K. A study of shouting and respiration in ground stroke of soft tennis –using questionnaire method–. Bull. of Nippon Sport Sci. Univ 1997: 27(1): 55-63.
[2]	Nippon junior high school physical culture association. The number of player by athletic event in Japanese junior high school in 2015.
[3]	Miura A, Tomosue R, Fukunaga T. Arm strength and composition in the dominant and non-dominant arms for tennis players. Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 1986: 35(6): 424.
[4]	Lucki NC, Nicolay CW. Phenotypic plasticity and functional asymmetry in response to grip forces exerted by intercollegiate tennis players. American Journal of Human Biology 2007: 19(4): 566-577.
[5]	Morimoto T, Akune H, Ando K. A study on postural deficiency –the effects of different leg-length on the body–. Bulletin of Seinan Gakuin University 2005: 4(2): 49-63.
[6]	Mathiowetz V. Grip and pinch strength measurements.: LR Amundsen (Ed.) Muscle Strength Testing: Instrumented and Noninstrumented Systems. Churchill-Livingstone, New York; 1990: 163-177.
[7]	Luís C, Francisco P, Pablo F, Aldo M, Rafael H, José A G J. Grip Strength in Young Top-level Table Tennis Players. International Journal of Table Tennis Sciences 2010: 6: 64-66.
[8]	Kubota H, Demura S. Gender differences and laterality in maximal handgrip strength and controlled force exertion in young adults. Health 2011: 3(11): 684-688.
[9]	Kubota H, Demura S, Kawabata H. Laterality and Age-level Differences between young women and elderly women in controlled force exertion (CFE). Archives of gerontology and Geriatrics 2012: 54: e68-e72.
[10]	Nagasawa Y, Demura S, Yamaji S, Kobayashi H, Matsuzawa J. Ability to coordinate exertion of force by the dominant hand: comparisons among university students and 65-to 78-year-old men and women. Perceptual and Motor Skills 2000: 90: 995-1007.
[11]	Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan. 2013 Physical Fitness and Motor Skills Test Overview. http://www.mext.go.jp/english/topics/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/07/02/1359170_2.pdf>, <http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/estat/List.do?bid=000001055014&cycode=0> [Accessed 20 January 2016].
[12]	Demura S, Sato S, and Nagasawa Y. Re-examination of useful items for determining hand dominance. Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2009: 168: 169-177.
[13]	Asami T, Ishijima S, Taneya A. Characteristics of hand, Foot, trunk side and eye dominance in university athletes. Journal of the Society of Biomechanisms 1983: 7(2): 35-46.
[14]	Maie H, and Mashui Y. Coordinated exertion of force on laterality in the boys of the elementary school upper grades: examination about the difference between the handedness and the non-handedness. Bulletin of Tokyo Future University 2012: 4(2): 49-63.
[15]	Hirano M, Adachi T, Yoshino K. A study on effects of exercise on the respiratory muscle strength. Congress of the Japanese Physical Therapy Association 2011: 46: PI1-374.
[16]	Yoshida M, Taketomi Y, Yanagida Y, Shimada T, Inagaki M, Takemasa S, Okiyama T, Nakata M. Some characteristics of the physical structures of Kobe Universiade athlete according to their event. Kobe University Repository Kernel 1986: 2: 51-56.
[17]	Wakabayashi M. Kaise T, Morifuji S, Takahashi S, Yano M. A study on grip and grip strength in Judo player. Research Journal of Budo 1989: 22(2): 177-178.
[18]	Aouda H, Mizutani J, Yoguchi T, Kon Y. The relationship between injuries and physical characteristics of junior high school basketball players. Sports Injuries 2013: 18: 34-36.
[19]	Ellenbecker TS, Roetert EP, Riewald S. Isokinetic profile of wrist and forearm strength in elite female junior tennis players. Br J Sports Med 2006: 40: 411-414.
[20]	Teshima T, Hosoda M, Tsunoda N. Gender difference on thigh muscle aged from 10 to 21 years old soccer players. The Annual Reports of Health Physical Education and Sport Science 2013: 32: 93-97.
[21]	Hinder MR, Carroll TJ, Summers JJ. Inter-limb transfer of ballistic motor skill following non-dominant limb training in young and older adults. Experimental Brain Research 2013: 227 (1), Issue 1: 19-29.
[22]	Zhao L, Oguri K, Du N, Teramachi H, Kato Y, Munehir K, Kawasel H, Mitsuru Seishima M, Amano H, Matsuoka T. Endothelial Function in Female Student Athletes Participating Badminton Training. Acta Sch Med Univ Gifu 2003: 51(1): 67-73.
[23]	Petersen P, Petrick M, Connor H, Conklin D. Grip strength and hand dominance: challenging the 10% rule. Am J Occup Ther. 1989: 43(7): 444-447.