Pen Grip Force, Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting in Children
Pen Grip Force Fine Motor Skills and Handwriting in Children
The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal published research examining pen-grip kinetics during writing tasks of 181 school-age children (5-12 years old) and investigate the relationship between the kinetic factors and fine motor skills. A force acquisition pen was to measure the forces applied from the digits and pen-tip were measured during writing tasks. Each child’s fine motor skills were also evaluated. The results indicated the following:
- peak force and average force might not be direct indicators of handwriting performance for typically developing children ages 5-12.
- younger children showed larger force variation and lower adjustment frequency during writing.
- force control when handling a pen is significantly correlated with fine motor performance, particularly manual dexterity.
The researchers concluded that manipulation skill may be crucial when children are establishing their handwriting capabilities.
Reference: Lin, Y. C., Chao, Y. L., Wu, S. K., Lin, H. H., Hsu, C. H., Hsu, H. M., & Kuo, L. C. (2017). Comprehension of handwriting development: Pen‐grip kinetics in handwriting tasks and its relation to fine motor skills among school‐age children. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
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