Comparison of the Non-Dominant Hands of Pianists and the Dominant Hands of Individuals Who Do Not Play Instruments

Comparison of the Non-Dominant Hands of Pianists and the Dominant Hands of Individuals Who Do Not Play Instruments in Terms of Skills and Reaction Time

The aim of this study is to compare the non-dominant hands of pianists with the dominant hands of individuals who do not play an instrument in terms of skill and reaction time.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Function; Hand; Piano Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: The same evaluation methods were used for both groups. No intervention was applied to individuals in two groups..

Detailed Description

The study was conducted at Haliç University on 10 individuals who have been playing the piano for at least five years (Group 1) and 10 individuals who have never played an instrument in their lives (Group 2). The individuals who agreed to participate in the study and signed the consent form were administered the "Edinburgh Hand Preference Questionnaire" to determine hand dominance, the "Nine-Hole Peg Test" to evaluate hand dexterity, and the "Nelson Hand Reaction Test" to determine reaction time. We believe that the results of our study will provide new perspectives to the literature.Statistical analysis will be performed with SPSS 24.0 program. If the data is parametric, paired sample t-test will be used for within-group evaluation; independent sample t-test will be used for between-group evaluation. If the data is non-parametric, Wilson test will be used for within-group evaluation and Mann Whitney U test will be used for between-group evaluation.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 20

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Halic University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Pianists and Individuals Who Do Not Play Instruments

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

For Group 1:

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Being between the ages of 18-30
• Having played an instrument professionally for at least 3 years

For Group 2:

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Being between the ages of 18-30
• Having not played/does not play any instrument before or currently

Exclusion Criteria:

For Group 1:

• Being able to play an instrument other than the piano professionally
• Having a surgical operation involving the shoulder, arm, forearm or hand in the last 6 months
• Having any systemic, genetic, neurological or orthopedic problems that would prevent the tests

For Group 2:

• Having a surgical operation involving the shoulder, arm, forearm or hand in the last 6 months
• Having any systemic, genetic, neurological or orthopedic problems that would prevent the tests

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Group 1: Pianists; The non-dominant hands of the pianists in this group were evaluated.	Other: The same evaluation methods were used for both groups. No intervention was applied to individuals in two groups..; No intervention was applied to individuals in this group.
Group 2: Individuals Who Do Not Play Instruments; The dominant hands of the individuals who do not play instruments in this group were evaluated.	Other: The same evaluation methods were used for both groups. No intervention was applied to individuals in two groups..; No intervention was applied to individuals in this group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Edinburgh Hand Preference Questionnaire	Used to determine hand dominance. The survey's answer options; the results of the survey were evaluated according to Geschwind's score as follows, in line with the answers given.; strong right-handers +80 to +100 points; weak right-handers +20 to +75 points; ambidextrous -15 to +15 points,; weak left-handers -20 to -75 points; strong left-handers -80 to -100 points	at baseline
Nine-Hole Peg Test	It was used to evaluate fine manual skills against time. The participant was asked to place 9 3.2 cm long sticks into the holes on the platform as quickly as possible with his hand and the time from the start command to the last stick was recorded. Then, he was asked to collect the sticks in order with the same hand and the time to remove all the sticks was recorded in seconds.	at baseline
Nelson Hand Reaction Test	It was used to evaluate reaction time. It consists of a ruler graduated in time. The tester held the ruler by the end between the thumb and index finger of the subject and then released the ruler. The upper point where the subject grasped the ruler with his fingers was recorded.	at baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Halic University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Duygu Şahin Altaç, PT, MSc., Halic University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Heinan M. A review of the unique injuries sustained by musicians. JAAPA. 2008 Apr;21(4):45-6, 48, 50 passim. doi: 10.1097/01720610-200804000-00015. No abstract available.
• Haslinger B, Erhard P, Altenmuller E, Hennenlotter A, Schwaiger M, Grafin von Einsiedel H, Rummeny E, Conrad B, Ceballos-Baumann AO. Reduced recruitment of motor association areas during bimanual coordination in concert pianists. Hum Brain Mapp. 2004 Jul;22(3):206-15. doi: 10.1002/hbm.20028.
• Poole JL, Burtner PA, Torres TA, McMullen CK, Markham A, Marcum ML, Anderson JB, Qualls C. Measuring dexterity in children using the Nine-hole Peg Test. J Hand Ther. 2005 Jul-Sep;18(3):348-51. doi: 10.1197/j.jht.2005.04.003.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 10, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): July 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 31, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 19, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 14, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: function; hand
• Other Study ID Numbers: 28.07.2024-MR

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No