Sidika KORKMAZ, Eslem Yaren BIYIK, Serdar COLAKOGLU
Dynamic Medical Theories - 2026;2(1):57-62
Aim: Prolonged study hours may lead to changes in the hands and fingers of medical students. This study aims to investigate whether there are use-dependent functional and sensory differences in tactile sensitivity, pinch strength, proprioception, and pain threshold between the dominant and non-dominant hands of medical students aged 18-30. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 participants (75 females, 56 males) were included. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory was used to determine the dominant hand. Bilateral tests using monofilaments, two-point discrimination, a pinch meter, and a dolorimeter were performed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers. All measurements were conducted by the same experienced researcher, and the data were analyzed statistically. Results: Mann-Whitney U test revealed a statistically significant difference between genders in the tests applied to the first three fingers of both hands (p<0.05). However, intra-group analyses within genders showed no significant differences (p>0.05). Spearman correlation analysis indicated significant relationships between age, Edinburgh score, and certain variables (p<0.05), while others were not significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found between the dominant and non-dominant hands regarding sensation, grip strength, and pain threshold in the first three fingers, which are actively used in holding a pen. These findings are expected to contribute to diagnostic procedures, particularly in neurology clinics.
