Single finger movements in the aging hand

Changes in finger independence, muscle activation patterns and tendon displacement in older adults

Journal article (2019)

Authors

Nathalie Van Beek Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Dick F. Stegeman Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Ilse Jonkers Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Chris L. De Korte Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, University of Twente
H.E.J. Veeger Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biomechanical Engineering , Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
H. Maas Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Department
Biomechanical Engineering
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Department

Biomechanical Engineering

Abstract


With aging, hand mobility and manual dexterity decline, even under healthy circumstances. To assess how aging affects finger movement control, we compared elderly and young subjects with respect to (1) finger movement independence, (2) neural control of extrinsic finger muscles and (3) finger tendon displacements during single finger flexion. In twelve healthy older (age 68–84) and nine young (age 22–29) subjects, finger kinematics were measured to assess finger movement enslaving and the range of independent finger movement. Muscle activation was assessed using a multi-channel electrode grid placed over the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the extensor digitorum (ED). FDS tendon displacements of the index, middle and ring fingers were measured using ultrasound. In older subjects compared to the younger subjects, we found: (1) increased enslaving of the middle finger during index finger flexion (young: 25.6 ± 12.4%, elderly: 47.0 ± 25.1%; p = 0.018), (2) a lower range of independent movement of the index finger (young
middle
= 74.0%, elderly
middle
: 45.9%; p < 0.001), (3) a more evenly distributed muscle activation pattern over the finger-specific FDS and ED muscle regions and (4) a lower slope at the beginning of the finger movement to tendon displacement relationship, presenting a distinct period with little to no tendon displacement. Our study indicates that primarily the movement independence of the index finger is affected by aging. This can partly be attributed to a muscle activation pattern that is more evenly distributed over the finger-specific FDS and ED muscle regions in the elderly.

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