A COMPARISON OF GRIP STRENGTH AND SELECTED PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE-MEASURES IN HEALTHY AND FRAIL ELDERLY FEMALES

Researchers have examined the relationships between strength and psych omotor skills among healthy male subjects far more thoroughly than amo ng female subjects, especially elderly females. The purpose of the pre sent investigation was to compare healthy and frail elderly females on grip strength and psychomotor performance measures. Nineteen healthy elderly females (M = 75.7 years of age) and 20 frail elderly females ( M = 80.5 years of age) performed simple aiming movements in order for the investigators to obtain psychomotor measures (e.g., reaction time, movement time, kinematic movement characteristics). In addition, stre ngth measures were obtained in the dominant and nondominant hands. Sig nificant differences were found between elderly females on grip streng th and psychomotor performance measures. In general, healthy subjects were stronger and exhibited superior control of movements (e.g., great er impulse, fewer movement adjustments).