Investigation of the Relationship between Somatotypes and Hand Types in Healthy Young Individuals

Rukiye Sumeyye  Bakici; Necati Emre   Sahin; Seyma   Toy; Zulal  Oner

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i9.19865

Rukiye Sumeyye Bakici Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Karabük University, Karabük, Türkiye
Necati Emre Sahin Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Karabük University, Karabük, Türkiye
Seyma Toy Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Karabük University, Karabük, Türkiye
Zulal Oner Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, İzmir Bakırçay University, İzmir, Türkiye

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i9.19865

Keywords: Somatotype; Hand shape; Anthropometry; Hand type

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between hand types and somatotypes of healthy young individuals.

Materials: A total of 312 volunteering individuals (152 F, 160 M) from Karabük University (Karabük, Türkiye), between the ages of 17 and 35 years were included in this prospective study. The somatotypes of the individuals were measured using a previously formed Excel template based on the Heath-Carter method. Factor analysis and clustering analysis were conducted with the 17 parameters measured.

Results: The mean body mass index of female participants was 21.23±3.30 kg/m², while that of males was 23.48±3.52 kg/m². When the somatotypes of individuals were examined, 5 different groups were found to be balanced: ectomorph, endomorphic mesomorph, mesomorph endomorph, mesomorphic endomorph, and central. As a result of these factors, it was concluded that there were 4 hand types: short palm short finger, long palm long finger, wide hand long finger, narrow hand short finger. The distribution of hand types between somatotype groups, the result that endomorphic mesomorph group had long palm long finger and wide hand long finger, while balanced ectomorph group had narrow hand short finger was found to be statistically significant (x²=55.817;df=12, P<0.05).

Conclusion: The difference between somatotypes was not only in body types, but also in hand anthropometry. We believe that the fact that these results can be used as anatomical data in product design, ergonomics, and preliminary design of interfaces for young individuals in the Turkish population will contribute to experts interested in this field.