How Hand and Fingers Size Can Be A Predictor Of Athletic Potential
When it comes to predicting sporting greatness, coaches often turn to a raft of fitness tests such as the 40-yard-dash and the VO2 Max , but determining how much fuel we have to reach our goals could be as simple as looking at our fingers size say the experts, according to recent research. But how so?
When we exercise intensely, our bodies rely on lactate as the preferred fuel for the nerve and muscle cells. Apparently, predicting our potential to produce lactate can often be determined by the size difference between our index and ring finger. Scientists call this the “2D:4D Ratio” (that’s the second and fourth digit ratio) and previous research has already found that adolescent boys who have a longer index finger compared to their ring finger benefit from greater grip strength but the reason for this is thought to be more hormonal than mechanical. Now, a new study, looking at professional female footballers has shown that while the 2D:4D ratio could say a lot about our athletic potential, one size may not fit all.
“Men with a long ring finger relative to their index finger produced little in the way of lactate,” said Professor John Manning of the Swansea’s Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) research team, who has been working with colleagues in Cyprus, Poland, and Spain to monitor the performance of male and female professional footballers. “For women, there were two predictors, height and 2D:4D. Lactate levels were low for tall women and women with a long ring finger relative to their index finger. The link here is thought to be testosterone-oestrogen balance in the womb and at puberty.”
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