This report is a continuation of the study about mobility of the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints of the three-phalangeal fingers. We measured flexion of proximal (PIP) and distal (DIP) interphalangeal joints in university students (52 males and 49 females), senior citizens (30 males and 30 females), and pianists (21 males and 31 females). Students were considered as a control group characterized by normal mobility of hand joints. In all three groups, the smallest flexion in the PIP joints is in the little finger, in the DIP joints in the index and ring fingers. In the control group the flexion in the PIP joints is greater in females compared to males, in the DIP joints it is greater on the left side compared to the right. With the exception of DIP joints in females, the situation is also similar in seniors. In pianists, however, the gender and lateral differences are less pronounced, due to exercise. Seniors of both genders show significant limitation of flexion in all PIP as well as DIP joints, as compared to students, while pianists have the same range of flexion compared to students, which also corresponds to the situation in MP joints. The previous study, however, showed that pianists have a greater ability to abduct and hyperextend fingers.

Anthropology and Human Genetics Faculty of Science Charles University Prague

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