Physical functional performance capacity and its relationship with handedness among a sample of University Undergraduates in Benin-City, Nigeria

Background/Objective: The relationship between handedness and physical functional performance (PFP) remains a subject of debate. While some researchers have claimed that right-handed persons are more skilful with their right hands when performing hand tasks, others have opined that left-handers perform better. This study assessed the relationship between handedness and PFP among the university undergraduate students. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study which employed purposive sampling technique to recruit 29 (age ranging between 14 and 24 years) university undergraduate students. Participants' sociodemographic, anthropometric characteristics and physiological parameters were measured using the standard procedures. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory was used to categorise the handedness of participants. PFP of the participants was determined using the handgrip strength. Data obtained were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics with the SPSS software version 21, with a level of statistical significance determined at P < 0.05. Results: The mean right handgrip (34.15 ± 8.25 kg vs. 30.5 ± 9.83 kg, P = 0.431) and left handgrip (30.74 ± 11.32 kg vs. 35.17 ± 9.33 kg, P = 0.348) strengths for right-handed (n = 23) and left-handed (n = 6) participants, respectively, were not significant. The handgrip strength between the preferred (35.41 ± 9.53 kg) and nonpreferred hands (29.62 ± 9.25 kg) of participants differed significantly (P = 0.02). Right-handed participants were significantly stronger with their preferred hand (35.48 ± 9.79 kg vs. 29.39 ± 9.31 kg, P = 0.01) and left-handed participants were significantly stronger with their preferred hand (35.17 ± 9.33 kg vs. 30.5 ± 9.83 kg, P = 0.001). Finally, there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05) between participants' handedness and handgrip strength and other physiological parameters. Conclusion: It is, therefore, concluded that PFP differs according to handedness but did not correlate with physiologic parameters in adolescents.