COMPARISON OF MOTORCYCLISTS' HAND GRIP STRENGTH AND REACTION TIME

The purpose of this study was to compare hand grip strength and reaction times in male motorcycle racers grouped according to different ages and the classes of motorcycle used and determine the relation between these characteristics. Sixty-five healthy male motorcycle racers were divided into four groups according to their age and the power of the motorcycles' engine: (Group-1 [G1] = 600CC/23-34 years; Group-2 [G2] = 600-CC/35-48 years; Group-3 [G3] = 1000-CC/23-34 years; Group-4 [G4] = 1000-CC/35-48 years). Then, Nelson's reaction time and maximal hand grip strength were measured for both hands. There were no significant differences between the groups' grip strength (p>0.05). It was found that G1's right-and left-hand reaction time was faster than that of G2, and G1's left-hand reaction time was faster than that of G3 (p<0.05). The right-hand visual reaction time was found to have a negative weak correlation with the left-hand absolute grip strength (r=-0.247, p=0.047), and there was a weak positive correlation between the left-hand visual reaction time and height (r=0.315, p=0.011). G1's right-hand visual reaction time was better than that of G2 (p < 0.001), and G1's visual left-hand reaction time was better than those of G2 (p < 0.034) and G3 (p < 0.011). Although the absolute and relative hand grip strength values did not differ according to the ages and the engine power of the motorcycle used, it was found that the simple reaction time increased with increasing age.