Impact of Smoking on Speed and Coordination of Upper Limb Movement

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of smoking on speed and coordination of upper-limb movement. METHODS A total of 62 healthy, young individuals were randomly selected for participation in this study. Out of total subjects, 31 were smokers with a mean age 20.84 years and 31 were non-smokers with a mean age 19.97 years and placed in group A and group B, respectively. Plate taping test was administered to all the subjects to determine their speed and coordination of upper limb. FINDINGS Student's t-test was applied between both groups to see the difference in their plate taping test's time; its t-value was 5.03. CONCLUSION Statistical significant difference was seen between both the groups in the result of plate taping test, which suggests that smoking can affect the speed and coordination of upper limb in a negative way and cause its deterioration. Therefore, immediate quitting from smoking is of high value and requirements to have a good speed and coordination of upper-limb movements.