Influence of aging on bimanual coordination control

Degeneration in the neuromuscular system due to aging can affect daily activities that need to be controlled by bimanual coordination with both hands. However, little is known about the influence of aging on grip strength and bimanual coordination control between hands. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of aging on the maximum grip force output and capacity of coordination control of two hands. Ten healthy elderly and 21 young adults were recruited and asked to execute maximum grip force tests and bimanual coordination control tasks with reciprocal grasping, holding, and releasing of a dynamometer with both hands at three target force levels (10, 20 and 40% maximal voluntary contraction, MVC). Compared with the young group, the maximum grip force of the hands of the elderly group was significantly lower by 77.5% (p