Differences in Muscle Activity Patterns and Graphical Product Quality in Children With Graphomotor Impairment

NCT02501590 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 22-14-LOE
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

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.

Conditions

Graphomotor Impairment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Normilized Muscle Activity

  The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) value for each muscle will be computed as the average of three peaks of the surface electromyography (sEMG) data, which differed by no more than 10% from one another. The mean root mean square (RMS) values of the sEMG data will be normalized by the MVC value for each muscle so that the value is presented by percentage.

  day1

Study Arms (2)

study

After the parents sign an informed consent form, they will fill out a demographic questionnaire. Than if the Beery VMI test was not yet administered, it would be performed, as well as the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCD-Q). Surface electromyography electrodes will be placed on the Upper Trapezius, Extensor Carpi Radialis, and Biceps brachii of the child's dominant hand. The subject will perform 4 copying tasks and 2 tracing tasks on a tablet placed once on a horizontal surface (while sitting) and once on a vertical surface (while standing).

control

After the parents sign an informed consent form, they will fill out a demographic questionnaire. Than if the Beery VMI test was not yet administered, it would be performed, as well as the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCD-Q). Surface electromyography electrodes will be placed on the Upper Trapezius, Extensor Carpi Radialis, and Biceps brachii of the child's dominant hand. The subject will perform 4 copying tasks and 2 tracing tasks on a tablet placed once on a horizontal surface (while sitting) and once on a vertical surface (while standing).

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 4 Years - 6 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A total of Forty five 4-6 years old children, referred to occupational therapy

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Loewenstein Hospital: lead

Study Sites (2)

Loewenstein hospital

Raanana, Israel

Location

Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center

Raanana, Israel

Location

Related Publications (5)

• McHale K, Cermak SA. Fine motor activities in elementary school: preliminary findings and provisional implications for children with fine motor problems. Am J Occup Ther. 1992 Oct;46(10):898-903. doi: 10.5014/ajot.46.10.898.

  PMID: 1463061 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 22690768 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 17685172 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 12269511 BACKGROUND

• 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.

  PMID: 11006808 BACKGROUND

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Aviva Mimouni-Bloch
• Organization: Head of The Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Unit

abloch@clalit.org.il

97297709048

Study Officials

• Aviva Mimouni-Bloch, M.D

  Clalit Health Services

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Head of The Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Unit

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 8, 2015
• First Posted: July 17, 2015
• Study Start: June 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2016
• Study Completion: October 1, 2016
• Last Updated: April 30, 2019
• Results First Posted: August 7, 2017

Record last verified: 2019-04

Locations

IL (2)