The Optimal Joint Angle for Adductor Pollicis Force Production in Men and Women Journal Articles uri icon

  •  
  • Overview
  •  
  • Research
  •  
  • Identity
  •  
  • Additional Document Info
  •  
  • View All
  •  

abstract

  • The purpose of this study was to determine the joint angle that allows for the greatest MVC and evoked twitch forces from the adductor pollicis (AP), and also whether there is a gender difference in either the above forces or the optimum thumb angle. Ten men (25.2 yrs) and 10 women (27.6 yrs) participated. The nondominant hand was placed palm-down with the thumb fixed at four angles of abduction (55, 70, 85, 100°). Male MVC forces were significantly greater than female, and there was no significant effect of joint angle on MVC force in either gender. For the evoked twitch, men were significantly stronger than women when tested at the 100 and 85° angles, and a significant effect was found for joint angle such that the lowest twitch force occurred at 55°. Men also tended to have a greater rate of force development than women (p = 0.07). These data suggest that studies using the AP muscle in stimulated and voluntary paradigms should use a thumb angle between 70 and 100° of abduction, or approximately 85°, and that the same angle can be used for both men and women. Key words: evoked twitch, MVC, gender, EMG, rate of force development

publication date

  • December 1, 1999