Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists May 2016 | Page 4

Functional Tasks, Postural Control and CP
The Journal of Physical Science published
research on 96 elementary school children
with cerebral palsy to identify factors
influencing handwriting articulation based on
the international classification of functioning,
disability and health (ICF) and to recommend
effective evaluation and intervention
strategies. The participants were: 54 males,
42 females, average age of 11.16 years old,
54 with diplegia, 30 with hemiplegia and 12
with quadriplegia.
Through interviews, proprioception test, manual muscle testing, dynamometer, BruininksOseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (subtest 3 and 8), sitting balance test, pencil grasp
survey and Korean alphabet writing assessment factors related to handwriting were
classified. The factors were classified as personal factors (gender, age, education, hand
dominance, type of cerebral palsy), environmental factors (writing aids, sitting aids, type of
desk), body structure(affected side), body functions (cognitive function: orientation, visual
perception, spatial perception, motor praxis, visual motor organization, thinking operation;
sensory function: proprioception, tactile; strength function: upper extremity, grasp,
prehension; motor function: bilateral coordination, upper extremity speed), and activity and
participation (sitting balance, pencil grasp posture).
The results indicated that the following factors were related to handwriting articulation:
 personal factors (age, education)
 body functions (cognitive function: visual perception, visuomotor organization
 strength function: upper extremity elbow flexion and extension, wrist extension, lateral

deviation and medial deviation, grasp
 motor function: bilateral coordination, upper-extremity speed.
Statistically, wrist lateral deviation, upper-extremity speed and education were significantly
associated with handwriting articulation.
Handwriting Stations: Includes the materials to create a handwriting station on a tri-fold or in a
folder. The station includ