Effects of Temperature on Fine Motor Skills

Indianapolis, IN

This study examined the effect of hot and cold temperatures on fine motor skills including manual dexterity, twitch characteristics, and grip strength. Little research has assessed how acute exposure to hot and cold temperatures affect the performance of the hands in regard these specific areas. It was hypothesized that a heated water bath would improve fine motor skill functions and strength and a cold-water bath would have the opposite effects. The Hanover College Institutional Review Board approved this study with regard to the use of human subjects. Ten female subjects participated; all were Hanover College students ranging in ages from 19-22 years. Manual dexterity was assessed on the dominant hand using a tracing activity, a 9-hole pegboard test determined twitch characteristics, and a hand dynamometer was used to test grip strength. Subjects participated in two 30-minute sessions. The first session served as a control and included a trial without using a water bath. This was followed by a second trial with either a cold-water bath or hot water bath (randomly assigned), in which subjects submerged their dominant hand. The second session took place on a separate day and consisted of a third trial that used either a cold or hot water bath. Data collection is ongoing and will be completed soon. Pilot data and preliminary findings suggest that cold or heat exert similar effects to impair fine motor skill functioning and improve grip strength.