Abstract:
Objectives and design: The use of the radial pulse as a diagnostic tool is an important part of the Chinese
medicine (CM) clinical evaluation. This study reports the findings of an investigation into inter-arm pulse
strength differences in subjects and the relationship to traditional pulse claims relating to gender.
Method: Using a standardized pulse taking procedure and concrete operational definitions, two pulse assessors
with a demonstrated high level of inter-rater agreement each assessed the overall left and right pulse
strength and rated their findings on a standardized pulse form.
Results: The overall percentage of inter-rater agreement for manual assessment of dominant hand was 86%
(based on a cohort of 65 subjects). In relation to the three possible choices regarding dominant side (right, neither,
left) the right-hand side was most commonly selected as relatively strongest of the two regardless of gender
(60% of males and 71% of females). Analysis of the data using Chi-square (II) found the observed frequencies
for an assessor's rating of dominant hand in males were significantly different to those expected
according to CM theory.
Conclusions: The CM assumption of gender-related pulse-strength differences in left and right hand pulses
was not supported within this study.
