Thesis - Cyprus International University. Institute of Education and Research Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

The aim of this study was to compare the parameters of manual skills, bilateral deficit, reaction time, grip strength, and proprioception sense between senior dental students who use their hands more frequently throughout their education and senior students who do not receive any hand usage training. The study included a total of 140 participants, comprising 70 dental students and 70 law students aged between 18 and 25, studying at universities in the KKTC. The demographic information, habits, and health status of the participants were recorded. A digital hand dynamometer was used to evaluate gross grip strength, a pinch gauge for fine grip strength, the Purdue Pegboard Test for manual skills, a digital hand dynamometer for bilateral deficit evaluation, the Nelson Hand Reaction Test for reaction time, and the Joint Position Sense Platform for proprioception sense evaluation. As a result of the study, the fine manual skill levels of dental students were found to be significantly higher than those of law students (p<0.05). In proprioception evaluation, no statistically significant difference was found between the dominant and non-dominant side in terms of wrist flexion, extension, ulnar, and radial deviation joint position sense error rates (p>0.05). In the gross grip strength evaluation results of the dominant and non-dominant sides, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p>0.05). The fine grip strength values of dental students were found to be significantly higher than those of law students (p<0.05). The reaction time of the dominant side in dental students was found to be significantly shorter than that of law students (p<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of reaction time of the non-dominant side (p>0.05). When examining the bilateral deficit percentage results of the groups, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p>0.05). Repeated practical applications in individuals who use hand functions throughout their education have positive effects on fine manual skills, fine grip strength, and reaction time.