An Instrumented Assessment of a Rhythmic Finger Task among Children with Motor Coordination Difficulties.

Artal Keinan,Tami Bar-Shalita,Sigal Portnoy

doi:10.3390/s20164554

Abstract

Background: Coordination is crucial for motor function, yet objective clinical evaluations are limited. We therefore developed and tested the reliability and validity of a low-cost sensorized evaluation of a rhythmic finger task. Methods: Children with coordination difficulties (n = 24) and typically developing children (n = 24) aged from 5 to 7 years performed the Sensorized Finger Sequencing Test (SFST), a finger sequencing test that records the correct sequence, total time, and the standard deviation (SD) of touch time. Additionally, motor performance tests and parents’ reports were applied in order to test the reliability and validity of the SFST. Results: The study group had significantly greater thumb-finger test scores—total time in the dominant hand (p = 0.035) and the SD of the touch time in both dominant (p = 0.036) and non-dominant (p = 0.032) hands. Motor performance tests were not correlated with the SFST. Test–retest reliability in 10 healthy children was found for the SD of touch time in the dominant hand (r = 0.87, p = 0.003). Conclusions: The SFST was successful in assessing the movement pattern variability reported in children with motor difficulties. This exploratory study indicates that the low-cost SFST could be utilized as an objective measure for the assessment of proprioception components, which currently are overlooked by standardized motor performance assessments.

Highlights

The proprioceptive system provides awareness of the body0 s movement and posture through receptors found in the muscles, tendons, and joints [1]
Motor performance tests were not correlated with the Sensorized Finger Sequencing Test (SFST)
This exploratory study indicates that the low-cost SFST could be utilized as an objective measure for the assessment of proprioception components, which currently are overlooked by standardized motor performance assessments

Summary

Introduction

The proprioceptive system provides awareness of the body0 s movement and posture through receptors found in the muscles, tendons, and joints [1]. Children with motor coordination difficulties encounter challenges in participating in various activities at school, home, and in the community [5,6], and perform tasks in a less accurate manner compared to typically developing (TD) children These children produce lower scores on tests that involve identifying body postures or executing movements with their eyes closed [7,8] or repeating passive movement of the limbs [9] high variability in their gait patterns was reported, suggesting greater difficulty in lower limb control [10]. Conclusions: The SFST was successful in assessing the movement pattern variability reported in children with motor difficulties This exploratory study indicates that the low-cost SFST could be utilized as an objective measure for the assessment of proprioception components, which currently are overlooked by standardized motor performance assessments

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Discussion

Conclusion