Does Working on a Vertical Surface Influence the Quality of Tracing or Copying?

Researchers recently carried out a study to determine if the quality or performance level was affected when you go from working on a horizontal to a vertical surface.

As pediatric therapists, we often recommend that students work on vertical surfaces such as a wall, easel or slant board to encourage an increase in wrist extension, elbow and shoulder stability, and upright posture.  By modifying the environment by moving tracing, copying, drawing, writing or play to vertical surfaces, you change the muscles that are activated in the body.  Researchers recently carried out a study to determine if the quality or performance level was affected when you go from working on a horizontal to a vertical surface.

Research on Muscle Activation and Performance Levels on Vertical Surfaces

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy published research comparing performance level and muscle activity patterns during shape copying and tracing in two positions while sitting at a desk (horizontal surface) and while standing in front of a wall (vertical surface), between 22 typically developing preschool children and 13 children with mild disabilities.

Results of the Study

The researchers determined the following:

  • children performed faster and smoother movements when copying shapes on the vertical surface.
  • there was no reduction of accuracy when working on the vertical surface compared to working on the horizontal surface.
  • the children with mild disabilities exerted their upper trapezius muscles while performing the short tasks on the vertical surface compared with their muscle activity on the horizontal surface.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that short copying or drawing tasks on a vertical surface may help to increase the control of proximal muscles and help with graphomotor performance in children with mild disabilities.

More Resources about Working on a Vertical Surface

SUPER EASY PLAY IDEAS ON A VERTICAL SURFACE

COMPARING TRACING AND COPYING IN SITTING AND STANDING

10 FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS TO WORK ON SHOULDER STRENGTHENING

Fading Lines and Shapes – includes worksheets that gradually increase in visual motor difficulty while decreasing visual input for line and shape formation.  There are 18 worksheets for line formations ie horizontal, vertical, curves, waves, diagonals, spikes and combinations.  There are 9 worksheets for shape formations ie circle, cross, square, rectangle, X, triangle, diamond, oval and heart.  This download is great for push in therapy, therapy homework or consultation services in the classroom.

Fading Lines and Shapes encourages:

  • pre-writing practice
  • shape formation
  • visual motor skills

Find out more about Fading Lines and Shapes.

Reference:

Portnoy, S., Mimouni-Bloch, A., Rosenberg, L., Offek, H., Berman, T., Kochavi, M., … & Friedman, J. (2018). Graphical Product Quality and Muscle Activity in Children With Mild Disabilities Drawing on a Horizontally or Vertically Oriented Tablet. American Journal of Occupational Therapy72(6), 7206205040p1-7206205040p7.

Researchers recently carried out a study to determine if the quality or performance level was affected when you go from working on a horizontal to a vertical surface.