Chapter 21, Problem 1.2.2A

What factors in addition to gender contribute to observed differences in clench strength?

Summary Introduction

To write:

The factors influencing the observed differences in the clench strength apart from the gender.

Introduction:

Muscle is a bundle or band of fibrous tissue present in a human or animal body. It can contract and move in preserving the position of body parts. Muscles play a role in the production of force and motion. They are mainly responsible for sustaining and shifting posture, locomotion. 

Explanation of Solution

A motor unit is composed of a motor neuron and the skeletal muscle fibers. Both of these are supplied by the axonal terminals of the motor neuron. A motor pool is composed of all of the motor units within a muscle. Groups of these motor units usually work together to organize the contractions of a single muscle. There are two types of motor units: Small motor unit and large motor unit.

Motor unit recruitment:

It can be defined as the activation of additional motor units to complete the amplification in the muscular contractile strength. A motor unit contains one motor neuron and the entire of the muscle fibers it trigger.

Clench strength means the gripping power of a person.

During the grip action, the engaged muscles are the flexor digitorum profondus, flexor digitorum superficialis, and the flexor policus longus. These muscles arise in between the elbow region and the upper regions of the forearm bones. These also insert down into the phalanges (fingers or thumb).

Males have more clench strength than females. It means males can clench harder than the females.

The factors influencing the observed differences in the clench strength apart from the gender are as follows:

1. Age:

It is a factor that plays a role in clenching strength. Because due to aging there occurs weakness in the muscles. It decreases the gripping power. There is less gripping power in the hands of old than the adults.

2. Muscle fatigue:

Prolonged exposure to the vigorous exercise or activity leads to loss of strength in muscles. This affects the clenching strength due to muscular fatigue.

3. Physical built/genetics:

It also matters a lot. Clenching strength depends on hereditary and genetics of a person.

4. Size of the muscle:

The muscular size also influences the clench strength. Like the dominant forearm has the large size of muscle fibers so it possesses more clench strength.

5. Athlete versus non athlete:

Athlete’s body has well developed muscles than non athletes. So, athletes have more clench strength.

6. Previous injury:

If there is a case of some injury in the muscles then it will decrease the strength to clench.

Conclusion

The factors influencing the observed differences in the clench strength apart from the gender are as follows age, muscle fatigue, physical built/genetics, size of the muscle, athlete versus non athlete and previous injury.