PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FIST IN PUSH-UP EXERCISES OF KARATE COMPETITORS

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This report presents an empirical study of pressures distributed within the fingers of karate competitors while the subjects performed static and dynamic push-up exercises on their fists on a hard floor. As was expected, results revealed that peak pressures were localized in the index and middle fingers of the karate competitors during both the static and dynamic modes whereas the pressure was uniformly distributed in all fingers, except the thumb, in a control group of untrained college students. To avoid permanent hand injuries and an eventual reduction in gripping strength due to highly concentrated pressures, wearing adequate protective knuckle pads should be enforced in all matches and push-up exercises in karate training.