Scientists reveal what the length of your fingers really says about you and it might be surprising
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: Getty stock photo
A new study of 5,000 people has revealed exactly what your finger length means and how it relates to your health and endurance.
Psychics have been reading palms for thousands of years, but depending on where you stand on clairvoyance, if you took a reading yourself you'll likely have reserved some doubts over what you've been told.
Well, scientists have now delved into the art of palm reading by analyzing 22 previous papers looking into what the difference between your fingers could mean to your genetics.
The studies included more than 5,000 participants across 12 countries.
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"Measuring and comparing finger lengths might seem like a novelty, but research shows that this a proven and biologically sound method for identifying muscle strength - and now, endurance performance," University of South Australia's Bethany Gower said.
The method which she's referring to is the 2D:4D ratio - which stands for second-to-fourth digit ratio. Simply put it's the relative difference between your index finger and ring finger.
The research, undertaken by students at both Gower's college and a team of scientists from the University of North Dakota, has uncovered a connection between people who run marathons and their hands.
Their findings suggest that people with a longer ring finger than index finger may actually be more athletic than those with index fingers longer than ring fingers.
Gower continued: "Our research found that digit ratio is significantly linked to exercise tolerance, which reflects the highest intensity of exercise you can tolerate for a long time before it becomes too challenging to continue.
"What this means is that people with lower digit ratios – a ring finger longer than their index finger – are more likely to tolerate increasing exercise intensity and perform better in longer-duration activities, such as marathons or distance cycling.
"It's a significant finding that could help coaches and sports scientists identify talent, or help recreational athletes better understand their endurance potential."
Their paper is the most comprehensive evidence that suggests digit ratio points to someones cardiorespiratory fitness - with previous studies exploring its relation to sports performance.
It is also the first paper to link digit ratio specifically to exercise tolerance and endurance performance.
Meanwhile, Professor Grant Tomkinson added: "Greater exposure to testosterone in the womb has been linked with the development of lower digit ratios, which could influence a person’s ability to exercise intensely.
"It also has short-term benefits in later life by helping ‘charge’ the endocrine system to respond to challenging situations, like intense exercise, by suddenly spiking testosterone levels.
"This could manifest as people having stronger body systems or organs that physically improve their ability to tolerate intense aerobic exercise, or as a stronger psychosocial, competitive response to being challenged when exercising."