Evaluation of hand performance of sportsmen using Finger Tapping method

The most important part of the upper extremity functional human body which is the hand in virtually, is effective in all sporting activities but even stands out the most important element of the some sporting activities. Hand use and performance, is one of the indispensable elements of athletic performance. High hand performance, is the most important determinant of sports competition and so winning. This study aimed to evaluate of hand performance by "Finger Tapping" method in sporting branches which included active hand using and not using.These groups participated in the research; average age 20.73 ± 1.77 years including basketball (n=34) and volleyball (n = 38) sporting branches which hand used dominantly with football (n=31) sporting branches (uses hands actively) and athletics branch (n=31) (not use hands actively). This study as a control group was conducted on 279 male experimental consisting of persons uses hands dominantly ( use hands actively control group) (n=75), and not use (not use hands actively control group) (n=70).Groups were applied the Oldfield questionnaire alongside "Demographic Survey Form" and hand grip strength with hand anthropometry were measured. The "TanTong FingerTap" software was used which is an advanced analysis method of "Finger Tapping Test" for hand performance measuring. Data statistics were determined by the arithmetic average and standard deviation with the frequencies at SPSS for Windows 16.0 program, and Student t test and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted. "p <0.05" value differences were considered statistically significant in the study.According to the results of the study, hand anthropometries measurement results among the groups were; long and wide hand measuring values have been seen in ?hand active use groups?, as for the highest value between these two groups was belong to sporting group which use hands actively and it is understood that use hand actively or not use were not determinant for the length or width of the hand. Hand grip strength measurement results between the sporting groups as well as the control group; the results of the hand grip strength indicated that active hand used was higher than groups that do not use.As for hand performances of the experimental groups participated into the study, when right and left hand stroke scores and stroke duration average were examined; average stroke scores are significantly higher for both of the groups that use hand actively than the group not use hand actively. When overall the results of the study was evaluated; dominant used hand in all groups showed better performance than non-dominant used hand. When reaction test auditory and visual tests results of the experimental which participated into the study were examined; statistical meaning for any parameter could not be determined in terms of visual reaction test results among the groups.