Digit ratio as a predictor of cardiovascular endurance and speed performance among children / Izyana Najihah Ismail

The ratio between 2D (index finger) and 4D (ring finger) has produced much enthusiasm among
specialist. Previous research shows that men tend to have low digit ratio than women. It showed
that 2D:4D, a putative correlate of prenatal testosterone, has been found to relate performance in
sports and athletic which is low 2D:4D that have high prenatal testosterone correlate with high
performance. Nowadays, the student of children's achievement in sports has now become
important factors of identifying sporting athletic ability at early ages of child development. The
objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between low digit ratio and high digit
ratio towards cardiovascular endurance and speed among children. This study was used purposive
sampling technique by examining the digit ratio of male and female children aged 11.13±0.82
years (n=40) by putting them through physical fitness measures to examine the relationship of the
digit ratio with performance in the tests. 20 meter shuttle run test and 50 meter sprint test were
conducted. This study finds the strong relationship between low digit ratio towards
cardiovascular endurance, which is 2.95±0.52, p = .001 and speed performance which is,
9.33±0.97, p = .001 rather than high digit ratio. The results present more opportunities to be
explored in talent identification, especially in the youth, establishing the value of using the
2D:4D ratio as part of the process of identifying sporting ability