Skin deformation behavior during hand movements and their impact on functional sports glove design

Abstract

In this study a three-dimensional (3D) INFOOT scanner was used to scan the hand in different postures and Geomagic Studio 12 was used to measure and analyzes the skin deformation behavior (skin relaxed-strain ratio) during various sport activities. Thirteen female participants between the ages of 40-65 years with hand size medium (M) performed a relaxed hand posture and two dynamic postures which were relevant to key sport activities. There were significant differences in the skin relaxed-strain ratio between the experimental postures, especially in phalangeal and metacarpal regions with exception in (third fingermetacarpal region). The results of this study suggest that the metacarpal region had significantly larger skin relaxed-strain ratio than the phalangeal region and metacarpal-carpal region. This study has contributed to enhancing the knowledge of the skin deformation behavior during various sports activities which could be incorporated into sports and functional glove pattern design and engineering for improving the fit, comfort, and functionality of a sport glove.