Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| [b] Inpatient’s Safety Research Center, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| [c] Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Occupational Medicine Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Iraj Mohebbi, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Occupational Medicine Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Resalat Street, Urmia, Iran. Tel.: +98 04432231930; Fax: +98 04432240642; E-mail: irajmohebbi@umsu.ac.ir.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Hand anthropometry is useful for designing manual systems such as hand tools, controls, and gloves. There are limited published data on the hand dimensions of Iranian male and female adults. OBJECTIVE:This study was undertaken to measure the hand anthropometric dimensions in Iranian adults to compare data between two genders and also with the corresponding data from other nationalities. METHODS:A total of 34 dimensions of the right hand were measured in 217 male and 128 female adults using a digital caliper and tape. The mean, standard deviation, and the main percentiles are summarized in a table and the mean of each dimension is compared by independent t-tests between genders. Hand dimensions are compared between Iranian and other nationalities such as North Colombian, Korean, Turkish, Nigerian, Bangladeshi, Jordanian, and Vietnamese using the published data. RESULTS:Females had significantly smaller hand dimensions than males in all dimensions ranged from 4.21%to 18.16%, with the largest differences in hand breadths. Compared with other nationalities, the Iranian male and female adults had wider (greater breadth and circumferences) hands with shorter fingers. CONCLUSIONS:The results showed significant differences of hand anthropometry between Iranian and other nationalities which should be included in the design and selection of hand tools for Iranian population.
Keywords: Anthropometric measurement, hand, female, male
