Rd. Meyer et al., A COMPARISON OF GRIP STRENGTH AND SELECTED PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE-MEASURES IN HEALTHY AND FRAIL ELDERLY FEMALES, Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 66(1), 1995, pp. 1-8
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).