FIST BUMPS

We all know how good the feeling is to shake hands.  It seems to be a habit that we have learned from childhood.   It’s a custom that has quite a long history.  One explanation of its origin goes back to medieval times when knights would show and grip each others’ hands to confirm that they were not concealing weapons and meant no harm to each other.  The first documented human handshake appears in museum archaeological displays of Assyrian-Babylonian friendship.   Ancient texts show that handshaking was practiced in ancient Greece as far back as the Fifth Century B.C.  

 Handshaking is done upon meeting, greeting, and parting, offering congratulations, expressing gratitude, or completing an agreement.  It’s also done as a sign of good sportsmanship to convey trust, respect and equality.   Today, there appears to be a glitch to this practice.  Have you noticed the prevalence of antiseptics made available for us in grocery stores, hotels, cruise ships, hospitals and many other public places?  We are encouraged to wash our hands or use products such as Purell or Lysol Wipes.  We are not becoming mysophobic (fearful of germs), but there is a major drive toward health consciousness to avoid the spread of germs, particularly from our hands.

 The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80% of all infections are transmitted by hands.  The CDC points out that hand washing is like a “Do it Yourself” vaccine involving five easy steps:  Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, and Dry.  This process can reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory diseases.  The spread of influenza, an attributable illness in adults, costs the nation $83.3 billion each year in lost productivity and medical bills.

 There is a movement afoot to end hand shaking by introducing a style of greeting referred to as Fist Bumps or High Fives.  Researchers at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University in Wales documented that Fist Bumps are 20 times more hygienic than handshakes.  The results were published online (2014) in the American Journal of Infection Control.  Dr. David Bishai at Johns Hopkins University (2011) was inspired to study handshaking by observing 16 graduations of 5,000 students in which Deans and seniors shook hands.  He had the left and right hands of the deans before and after each handshake cultured.  There was some pathogenic evidence in only the right hand.  But, the results were not significant.   The point is that contamination by hand shaking may yet to be confirmed. There is no doubt that handshakes do transmit pathogens.

 A Fist Bump is performed when two participants each form a closed fist with one hand and then lightly tap the front of their fists together.  This sign may be done with either hand.  Fist bumping first appeared in the 1940s as biker gangs gained popularity.  Motorcyclists sitting next to each other at traffic lights found it easier, given their riding stance to extend a quick fist bump to a fellow rider.  Today, it appears to have become popular with young people and also among athletes competing.

 I doubt whether we, as seniors so habituated by hand shaking, may find it comfortable to resort to such a greeting. Yet, maybe we could give it a try. If nothing else, be sure to wash our hands often and after a hand shake.