Impact to the Base of the Palm

Abstract

This study exposed subjects to impacts to the base of the palm using a pendulum of different masses, possessing different energy levels and different velocities. Force sensing resistors were affixed to the thenar and hypothenar eminences of the hand. The subjects' perception of the severity of the impact, the total area of the force time graph, and the maximum acceleration of the force on the palm were measured and are reported on in this paper. Analyses of variance and stepwise regressions were used to determine the pertinent variables affecting the dependent measures. From the ANOVAs, Energy, Velocity, and to a lesser degree Mass affect the three dependent measures of impact measured. Gender only affected the psychophysical measure and then in conflicting ways. From the regression analyses, Energy appears to be the most important variable in affecting the physical and psychophysical results of an impact and larger skinfold thickness seems to ameliorate the severity of the impact.