Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Upper limb bone mineral density and body composition measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography in right-handed adults: The role of the dominance effect

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: To investigate the impact on bone and muscle of pathological conditions involving only one of the upper limbs, it is important to know the physiological differences due to the dominance effect. Aim: To evaluate any physiological differences between dominant and non-dominant upper limbs in terms of bone mineral density (BMD), muscle mass, and muscle density at different levels. Subjects and methods: The study considered 60 right-handed healthy adults, 30 men and 30 women. Cortical BMD, muscle area, and muscle density were investigated by pQCT-XCT-3000 Stratec at the proximal radius, trabecular and total BMD at the distal radius, and trabecular and cortical BMD at the second phalanx of the third finger. Hand grip strength was also measured. Results: No significant differences in BMD were found between the dominant and non-dominant upper limbs at any of the sites considered, in men or women. Muscle density was also similar on the two sides, whereas muscle area at the proximal radius was significantly lower on the non-dominant side in both men [4177.5±475.1 vs 4009.3±552.7 mm2; Δ%: 4.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7%–6.5%] and women (2903.9±470.9 vs 2720.3±411.7 mm2; Δ%: 6.1%; 95%CI 4.3%–7.9%). Hand grip strength proved greater on the right side in both men (48.5±8.8 vs 45.2±8.7 kg; Δ% 7.1; p<0.001) and women (29.1±4.3 vs 27.0±5.1 kg; Δ% 7.1; p<0.001). Conclusion: The dominance effect does not seem to influence trabecular or cortical BMD at any of the sites in the upper limb. Muscle density is not modified by dominance, while muscle area is reduced on the non-dominant side and this should be borne in mind when the effect of pathological conditions on the body composition of a single forearm is investigated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ferretti JL, Capozza RF, Cointry GR, Capiglioni R, Roldan EJ, Zanchetta JR. Densitometric and tomographic analyses of musculoskeletal interactions in humans. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2000, 1: 31–4.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tsuji S, Tsunoda N, Yata H, Katsukawa F, Onishi S, Yamazaki H. Relation between grip strength and radial bone mineral density in young athletes. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1995, 76: 234–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Walters J, Koo WW, Bush A, Hammami M. Effect of hand dominance on bone mass measurement in sedentary individuals. J Clin Densitom 1998, 1: 359–67.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Deodhar AA, Brabyn J, Jones PW, Davis MJ, Woolf AD. Measurement of hand bone mineral content by dual energy x-ray adsorptiometry: development of the method, and its application in volunteers and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 1994, 53: 685–90.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hatipoglu HG, Selvi A, Ciliz D, Yuksel E. Quantitative and diffusion MR imaging as a new method to assess osteoporosis. Am J Neuroradiol 2007, 28: 1934–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Grampp S, Nather A, Rintelen B, et al. Peripheral quantitative CT of the forearm: scanner cross-calibration using patient data. Br J Radiol 2000, 73: 275–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Guglielmi G, De Serio A, Fusilli S, et al. Age-related changes assessed by peripheral QCT in healthy Italian women. Eur Radiol 2000, 10: 609–14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tysarczyk-Niemeyer G. New noninvasive pQCT devices to determine bone structure. J Jpn Soc Bone Morphom 1997, 7: 97–105.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Neu CM, Manz F, Rauch F, Merkel A, Schoenau E. Bone densities and bone size at the distal radius in healthy children and adolescents: a study using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Bone 2001, 28: 227–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Di Leo C, Tarolo GL, Bestetti A, et al. Valutazione delle proprietà geometriche, biomeccaniche e osteodensitometriche del radio ultradistale mediante Tac periferica. Radiol Med 1999, 97: 229–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Louis O, Soykens S, Willnecker J, Van Den Winkel, Osteaux M. Cortical and total bone mineral content of the radius: accuracy of peripheral computed tomography. Bone 1996, 18: 467–72.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Augat P, Gordon CL, Lang TF, Iida H, Genant HK. Accuracy of cortical and trabecular bone measurements with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Phys Med Biol 1998, 43: 2873–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Haapasalo H, Kontulainen S, Sievänen H, Kannus P, Järvinen M, Vuori I. Exercise-induced bone gain is due to enlargement in bone size without a change in volumetric bone density: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study of the upper arms of male tennis players. Bone 2000, 27: 351–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Heinonen A, Sievänen H, Kannus P, Oja P, Vuori I. Site-specific skeletal response to long-term weight training seems to be attributable to principal loading modality: a pQCT study of female weightlifters. Calcif Tissue Int 2002, 70: 469–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ashizawa N, Nonaka K, Michikami S, et al. Tomographical description of tennis-loaded radius: reciprocal relation between bone size and volumetric BMD. J Appl Physiol 1999, 86: 1347–51.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Schneider P, Reiners C. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography. In: Genant HK, Guglielmini G, Jergas M, editors. Bone Densitometry and Osteoporosis. Berlin: Springer Verlag 1998, 349–63.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Kunelius A, Darzins S, Cromie J, Oakman J. Development of normative data for hand strength and anthropometric dimensions in a population of automotive workers. Work 2007, 28: 267–78.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Incel NA, Ceceli E, Durukan PB, Erdem HR. Grip strength: effect of hand dominance. Singapore Med J 2002, 43: 234–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Armstrong CA, Oldham JA. A comparison of dominant and nondominant hand strengths. J Hand Surg [Br] 1999, 4: 421–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Cesari M, Leeuwenburgh C, Lauretani F, et al. Frailty syndrome and skeletal muscle: results from the Invecchiare in Chianti study. Am J Clin Nutr 2006, 83: 1142–8.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wren TA, Bluml S, Tseng-Ong L, Gilsanz V. Three-point technique of fat quantification of muscle tissue as a marker of disease progression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: preliminary study. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2008, 190: W8–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Mazzali G, Di Francesco V, Zoico E, et al. Interrelations between fat distribution, muscle lipid content, adipocytokines, and insulin resistance: effect of moderate weight loss in older women. Am J Clin Nutr 2006, 84: 1193–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    G. Sergi MD, G. Enzi, E. Manzato, S. Giannini, E. M. Inelmen, G. Baldo, G. Rinaldi & A. Coin

  2. Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    E. Perissinotto

  3. Plastic Surgery Institute, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    M. Zucchetto & F. Bassetto

Authors
  1. G. Sergi MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Perissinotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Zucchetto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Enzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. Manzato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Giannini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. F. Bassetto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. E. M. Inelmen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. G. Baldo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. G. Rinaldi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. A. Coin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Sergi MD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sergi, G., Perissinotto, E., Zucchetto, M. et al. Upper limb bone mineral density and body composition measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography in right-handed adults: The role of the dominance effect. J Endocrinol Invest 32, 298–302 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345715

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345715

Key-words

Search

Navigation