Clinical trial NCT02501590: Differences in Muscle Activity Patterns and Graphical Product Quality in Children With Graphomotor Impairment
Official title: Differences in Muscle Activity Patterns and Graphical Product Quality in Children With Graphomotor Impairment Copying and Tracing Activities on Horizontal or Vertical Surfaces
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Graphomotor Impairment
Lead sponsor: Loewenstein Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2015-07-17
Enrollment: 48
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 6
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: A total of Forty five 4-6 years old children, referred to occupational therapy

Brief summary: Drawing on a vertical surface, rather than horizontal (such as blackboard) is often used by occupational therapists as a way of developing fine motor control and visual motor integration in children. In healthy children no difference in graphical quality was shown between drawing on vertical or horizontal surfaces. However, this was not investigated in children with graphomotor impairments.

The goal of this study is to determine whether movements produced on a vertical surface differ in their performance level and muscle activation patterns compared to movements produced on a horizontal surface. The investigators predict that there would be a difference in the level of performance between the two surfaces.

Detailed description: Drawing on a vertical surface, such as a blackboard (rather than a horizontal surface) is often used by occupational therapists as a way of developing fine motor control and visual motor integration in children. While there is anecdotal evidence to support this intervention, preliminary results in healthy children showed no differences in graphical quality while drawing on vertical or horizontal surfaces. This however was not investigated in children with graphomotor impairments.

The goal of this study is to determine whether movements produced on a vertical surface differ in their performance level and muscle activation patterns compared to movements produced on a horizontal surface.

The investigators predict that the level of performance on the vertical surface will exceed the level of performance on the horizontal surface. Additionally, the investigators hypothesize that the proximal muscles will be more activated and fatigued (in longer tasks) while drawing on the vertical surface, while the distal muscle will be more activated and fatigued while drawing on the horizontal surface.

Eligibility criteria: Study group Inclusion criteria:

* Up to 50 percentile in the long form Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI).

Exclusion Criteria:

* children in special education,
* any orthopedic or neurologic impairment,
* visual impairment that could not be corrected with glasses, or
* ability to understand and follow simple instructions, reported by the parents.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Normilized Muscle Activity
timeFrame: day1
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ra'anana
country: Israel
facility: Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center
city: Raanana
country: Israel
facility: Loewenstein hospital
Study officials:
affiliation: Clalit Health Services
name: Aviva Mimouni-Bloch, M.D
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Schwellnus H, Carnahan H, Kushki A, Polatajko H, Missiuna C, Chau T. Effect of pencil grasp on the speed and legibility of handwriting after a 10-minute copy task in Grade 4 children. Aust Occup Ther J. 2012 Jun;59(3):180-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2012.01014.x.
citation: Ratzon NZ, Efraim D, Bart O. A short-term graphomotor program for improving writing readiness skills of first-grade students. Am J Occup Ther. 2007 Jul-Aug;61(4):399-405. doi: 10.5014/ajot.61.4.399.
citation: Yakimishyn JE, Magill-Evans J. Comparisons among tools, surface orientation, and pencil grasp for children 23 months of age. Am J Occup Ther. 2002 Sep-Oct;56(5):564-72. doi: 10.5014/ajot.56.5.564.
citation: Wilson BN, Kaplan BJ, Crawford SG, Campbell A, Dewey D. Reliability and validity of a parent questionnaire on childhood motor skills. Am J Occup Ther. 2000 Sep-Oct;54(5):484-93. doi: 10.5014/ajot.54.5.484.