Comparison of Pencil-Grip Patterns in First Graders With Good and Poor Writing Skills

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare nondysfunctional children with and without handwriting difficulties for an examination of grip and hand preference. Additionally, in the group of children with handwriting difficulties, the children with decreased proprioceptive-kinesthetic finger awareness were compared with the children without such a decrease. The results suggest that children with handwriting difficulties may demonstrate a lower grip score than children without handwriting problems. In addition, among children with poor handwriting, those with decreased proprioceptive-kinesthetic finger awareness may demonstrate a lower grip score than those with good proprioceptive-kinesthetic awareness. Children with poor hand-writing also show less hand preference than those with good handwriting.

Handwriting development, competency, and intervention

“…39 Proprioception/kinesthesia also plays a role in handwriting performance by influencing pencil grip, the amount of pressure applied to the writing tool, and the ability to write within boundaries while also providing directionality information during letter formation. 27,28,33,40 However, studies of handwriting incorporating this component have produced conflicting results, pointing to the difficulty in measuring pure proprioceptive/kinesthetic function. 28 Sensory awareness of the fingers may also have an impact on handwriting performance.…”

“…25 A less mature pencil grip was associated with decreased proprioceptive-kinesthetic finger awareness in a study of grade one children (ages 6-7y) with handwriting difficulties. 40 Impaired sensory awareness of the fingers may require more intense visual monitoring of written output, causing increased fatigue and limiting the automaticity and hence level of handwriting performance that can be achieved. 38,40 Sustained attention is also necessary to enable the child to effectively perform a handwriting task for an extended period.…”

Análise psicométrica dos itens da Avaliação da Coordenação e Destreza Motora (ACOORDEM) em crianças de 4 anos

“…Com relação aos padrões de preensão no lápis, dos dez padrões descritos na literatura 16 , seis foram identificados nesta amostra: padrão palmar supinado 1,3%, polegar cruzado 1,3%, trípode estática em 3,8%, 4 dedos 28,8%, trípode lateral 27,5%, trípode dinâmica 21,3% e outros tipos 16%. Ao analisar o tipo de escola foi identificado que 45% das crianças das escolas públicas adquiriram padrão de preensão maduro, ou seja trípode lateral ou trípode dinâmica, em comparação aos 52,5% das crianças das escolas particulares.…”

“…Além de itens motores e dos questionários para pais e professores, a ACOORDEM inclui duas provas de escrita -cópia do alfabeto e de sentença simplesnas quais são avaliadas questões como velocidade e legibilidade, sendo também registrado o padrão de preensão no lápis, dentre os dez padrões descritos por Schneck e Henderson 14 . Embora não exista consenso na literatura acerca da influência dos diferentes padrões de preensão no lápis na qualidade da escrita 15 observase maior frequência de padrões atípicos entre crianças com problemas de coordenação motora 16 . Assim, é importante registar os padrões de preensão no lápis observados em crianças brasileiras, pois isso pode contribuir para o diagnóstico motor.…”

Os efeitos da postura de pega do lápis e de diferentes modelos de mesa sobre o desempenho na caligrafia de crianças com paralisia cerebral hemiplégica

“…11,16,17 However, the application of other ergonomic factors, such as the effect of desk designs on handwriting performance, has been rarely investigated. [18][19][20][21][22] Also, there is limited information about handwriting abilities and ergonomic factors in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP).…”