Pade M, Liberman L, Sopher RS, Ratzon NZ. Pressure distributions on the chair seat and backrest correlate with handwriting outcomes of school children.
Work 2018;
61:639-646. [PMID:
30475785 DOI:
10.3233/wor-182831]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Postures while sitting are believed to have an important influence on the process of writing and quality of handwriting, but data in this field are sparse.
OBJECTIVES
The current study was undertaken to investigate correlations between 'ordinary' children's handwriting skills and their posture and stability while sitting.
METHODS
Twenty-nine children with typical development (age 9.2±0.8 years) underwent the Hebrew Handwriting Evaluation, while the pressure distributions on their seats and backrests were recorded using a pressure mapping system.
RESULTS
There was an increase in the odds of erasing and overwriting letters in dictation tasks when body displacements of the buttocks increased [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.01, 95% CI 1.000-1.02, p = 0.050]. Children who did not lean on the backrest were more likely to have legible handwriting in copying tasks (OR = 0.136, 95% CI 0.026-0.723, p = 0.019).
CONCLUSIONS
The awareness and involvement of health practitioners in sitting postures of children at school might promote activities such as writing. Further investigation of movement patterns while writing and of the correlations of these patterns with handwriting outcomes is recommended. More research regarding adjustments at the school environment for children with developmental disorders is also warranted.
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