Age and sex differences of controlled force exertion measured by a computer-generated sinusoidal target-pursuit system.

This study examined age and sex differences of controlled force exertion in 207 males and 249 females aged 15 to 86 years. The subjects matched the submaximal grip strength of their dominant hand to changing demand values, appearing as a sinusoidal waveform on the display of a personal computer. The total difference (%) between the demand value and the grip exertion value for 25 sec was used as an evaluation parameter. Significant linear regressions were identified, but there was no significant difference in the rate of increase of both sexes. Analysis of variance showed insignificant differences among the means of both sexes, except for those of the 20-24yr-old group, and the differences between means of subjects greater than 50 years of age and 20 years of age increased in both sexes. Individual differences were almost the same in both sexes. The errors in controlled force exertion did not show a significant sex difference and tended to increase with age in both sexes. However, their rates of increase were significant only after 50 years of age.