Document Detail


Grip force variability and its effects on children's handwriting legibility, form, and strokes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21034156     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
A comprehensive understanding of the underlying biomechanical processes during handwriting is needed to accurately guide clinical interventions. To date, quantitative measurement of such biomechanical processes has largely excluded measurements of the forces exerted radially on the barrel of the writing utensil (grip forces) and how they vary over time during a handwriting task. An instrumented writing utensil was deployed for a direct measurement of kinematic and temporal information during a writing task, as well as forces exerted on the writing surface and on the barrel of the pen. The writing utensil was used by a cohort of 35 students (19 males), 16 in first grade and 19 in second grade, as they performed the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment (MHA) test. Quantitative grip force variability measures were computed and tested as correlates of handwriting legibility, form, and strokes. Grip force variability was shown to correlate strongly with handwriting quality, in particular for students classified by the MHA as nonproficient writers. More specifically, static grip force patterns were shown to result in poor handwriting quality and in greater variation in handwriting stroke durations. Grip force variability throughout the writing task was shown to be significantly lower for nonproficient writers (t-test, p<0.01) while the number of strokes and per-stroke durations were shown to be higher (p<0.03). The results suggest that grip force dynamics play a key role in determining handwriting quality and stroke characteristics. In particular, students with writing difficulties exhibited more static grip force patterns, lower legibility and form scores, as well as increased variation in stroke durations. These findings shed light on the underlying processes of handwriting and grip force modulation and may help to improve intervention planning.
Authors:
Tiago H Falk; Cynthia Tam; Heidi Schwellnus; Tom Chau
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of biomechanical engineering     Volume:  132     ISSN:  1528-8951     ISO Abbreviation:  J Biomech Eng     Publication Date:  2010 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-11-01     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7909584     Medline TA:  J Biomech Eng     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  114504     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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