Hand Strength, Handwriting, and Functional Skills in Children With Autism

Alaniz, Michele; Galit, Eleanor; Necesito, Corina Isabel; Rosario, Emily R.

doi:10.5014/ajot.2015.016022

Cited by 41 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(66 reference statements)

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“…This result was in contrary to a previous study conducted in children with JIA to measure the limitation of physical activity in relation to HGS [6]. In Alaniz et al [28] study, they used a self-assessment questionnaire and observed a significant correlation between wrist-related symptoms and problems at school. However our results were in agreement with similar studies in adult patients with RA [29] and in children with different disability [28].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Association of hand grip strength with disease activity, disability and quality of life in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

et al. 2018

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Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) affects wrist and hand joints leading to decrease hand function and patients' daily living activities. The assessment of hand grip strength (HGS) in children and adolescents with JIA is of major importance, and the association of HGS with JIA disease activity, disability and quality of life has not been explored. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate hand grip strength (HGS) in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) compared to matched healthy peers. The secondary objective was to explore the relationship between HGS and JIA disease activity, disability, and quality of life. Methods: This study involved 23 patients with JIA and 46 age and sex matched healthy controls. Hand held dynamometer was used to evaluate HGS for all study participants. Anthropometric parameters for all study participants were measured. Disease activity, physical function, and quality of life were assessed for the JIA group using juvenile arthritis disease activity score (JADAS-27), juvenile arthritis functionality scale (JAFS), and pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) respectively. Laboratory marker of inflammation, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and plain radiography of hands were performed for all patients. Results: Hand grip strength of children and adolescents with JIA was significantly weaker compared to matched controls (p < 0.001). Hand grip strength had a significant inverse correlation with JADAS-27 (r = − 0.467, p = 0.025), JAFS (r = − 0.650, p = 0.001) and a significant direct correlation with PedsQL (r = 0.438, p = 0.036). In addition, HGS was negatively correlated with ESR and duration of morning stiffness (r = − 0.489, p = 0.018 and r = − 0.201, p = 0.359, respectively). HGS was detected as an independent predictor of disease activity, disability, and quality of life in JIA patients in multivariate linear regression. Conclusions: Assessment of HGS could be a simple non-invasive tool for assessing disease activity, disability and quality of life in JIA patients in clinical practice.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 63%

Association of hand grip strength with disease activity, disability and quality of life in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

et al. 2018

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“…In childhood, grip strength and finger dexterity facilitate key academic tasks, such as handwriting. Indeed, grip strength was found to be correlated with pencil control and handwriting legibility in children with ASD (Alaniz, Galit, Necesito & Rosario, ). Poor handwriting may have detrimental effects on tasks like taking notes and completing math problems, creating a lasting impact on academic performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal development of manual motor ability in autism spectrum disorder from childhood to mid‐adulthood relates to adaptive daily living skills

Travers

Bigler

Duffield

et al. 2016

Developmental Science

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Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit motor difficulties, but it is unknown whether manual motor skills improve, plateau, or decline in ASD in the transition from childhood into adulthood. Atypical development of manual motor skills could impact the ability to learn and perform daily activities across the life span. This study examined longitudinal grip strength and finger tapping development in individuals with ASD (n=90) compared to individuals with typical development (n=56), ages five to 40 years old. We further examined manual motor performance as a possible correlate of current and future daily living skills. The group with ASD demonstrated atypical motor development, characterized by similar performance during childhood but increasingly poorer performance from adolescence into adulthood. Grip strength was correlated with current adaptive daily living skills, and Time 1 grip strength predicted daily living skills eight years into the future. These results suggest that individuals with ASD may experience increasingly more pronounced motor difficulties from adolescence into adulthood and that manual motor performance in ASD is related to adaptive daily living skills.

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“…3 The strength of intrinsic muscles of digits and thumb contribute to important functional hand activities, especially for those requiring dexterous hand movements, such as handwriting. 4,5 Moreover, measuring isolated hand intrinsic muscle strength can evaluate or monitor the progression or resolution of certain hand pathologies, hand therapy intervention effects, and research outcomes with greater specificity. For example, the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi are innervated by ulnar nerve, and thus the strength of these muscles may be clinical indicators to understand hand function and recovery in patients with ulnar nerve injuries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Decreased hand intrinsic strength may be experienced in youth with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, brachioplexopathies, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and hand overuse 12–18 and may be associated with limitations in self-care skills (eg, opening a snack box) and academic performance (eg, handwriting). 4 Many with hand dysfunction require surgeries such as tendon transfers or lengthening and nerve repair, 19,20 hand therapy after acute injuries and operation, or developmental rehabilitation for hand use in those born with disabilities. The use of a responsive psychometrically sound tool with normative reference values can assist in evaluating the success of these therapy and surgical interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reference values of intrinsic muscle strength of the hand of adolescents and young adults

Chen

McGee

Rich

et al. 2018

Journal of Hand Therapy

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Study Design A cross-sectional clinical measurement study. Introduction Measuring intrinsic hand muscle strength helps evaluate hand function or therapeutic outcomes. However, there are no established normative values in adolescents and young adults between 13 and 20 years of age. Purpose of the Study To measure hand intrinsic muscle strength and identify associated factors that may influence such in adolescents and young adults through use of the Rotterdam intrinsic hand myometer. Methods A total of 131 participants (male: 63; female: 68) between 13 and 20 years of age completed the strength measurements of abductor pollicis brevis, first dorsal interosseus (FDI), deep head of FDI and lumbrical of second digit, flexor pollicis brevis (FPB), and abductor digiti minimi. Two trials of the measurements of each muscle were averaged for analyses. Self-reported demographic data were used to examine the influences of age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) on intrinsic hand muscle strength. Results Normative values of intrinsic hand muscle strength were presented by age groups (13, 14, 15–16, 17–18, 19–20 year olds) for each sex category (male, female). A main effect of sex, but not age, on all the muscles on both the dominant (FPB: P = .02, others: P < .001) and non-dominant (FDI: P = .005, FPB: P = .01, others: P < .001) sides was found. A significant effect of BMI was found on dominant (P = .009) and non-dominant abductor pollicis brevis (P = .002). In addition, FDI (P = .005) and FPB (P = .002) were stronger on the dominant side than the non-dominant side. Discussion Intrinsic hand muscle strength may be influenced by different factors including sex, BMI, and hand dominance. A larger sample is needed to rigorously investigate the influence of age on intrinsic strength in male and female adolescents and young adults. Conclusion The results provide reference values and suggest factors to be considered when evaluating hand function and therapeutic outcomes in both clinical and research settings. Further study is recommended. Level of Evidence VI.

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Hand Strength, Handwriting, and Functional Skills in Children With Autism

Abstract: This study provides evidence that grip and pinch strength are important components in developing pencil control, handwriting legibility, and independence with functional fine motor tasks.

Cited by 41 publications

References 34 publications

Association of hand grip strength with disease activity, disability and quality of life in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Association of hand grip strength with disease activity, disability and quality of life in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Longitudinal development of manual motor ability in autism spectrum disorder from childhood to mid‐adulthood relates to adaptive daily living skills

Reference values of intrinsic muscle strength of the hand of adolescents and young adults

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