The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robot-assisted passive training on the performance of complex finger tapping. The subjects were healthy adults; they were divided into 2 groups. During the training session, one group underwent robot-assisted passive tapping training (passive training group), and another group did not move their fingers (control group). In one training session, passive finger tapping in a fixed sequence (little-index-ring-little-middle finger) at 2 Hz for 20 s was performed 10 times in the passive training group. The subjects underwent 6 training sessions. The maximum tapping frequency of the finger sequence used in the passive training and of another finger sequence was measured for 20 s before and after each training session. At the first and second training sessions, the mean number of maximum tapping frequency at the finger sequence used in the passive training for the passive training group was significantly greater after the training session than before the training session. The effect of passive training on the fastest tapping frequency, however, was reduced slightly before the next training session. It was suggested that passive tapping with the assistance of the robotic hand might have a short-term effect after passive training at early training sessions in the present experimental condition.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.31/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE