Fine Motor Function Research Articles

Utility of somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials in reflecting gross and fine motor functions after unilateral cervical spinal cord contusion injury.

Fine motor skills are thought to rely on the integrity of ascending sensory pathways in the spinal dorsal column as well as descending motor pathways that have a neocortical origin. However, the neurophysiological processes underlying communication between the somatosensory and motor pathways that regulate fine motor skills during spontaneous recovery after spinal cord contusion injury remain unclear. Here, we established a rat model of cervical hemicontusive injury using C5 laminectomy followed by contusional displacement of 1.2 mm (mild injury) or 2.0 mm (severe injury) to the C5 spinal cord. Electrophysiological recordings were performed on the brachial muscles up to 12 weeks after injury to investigate the mechanisms by which spinal cord pathways participate in motor function. After spinal cord contusion injury, the amplitudes of somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials were reduced, and the latencies were increased. The forelimb open field locomotion test, grooming test, rearing test and Montoya staircase test revealed improvement in functions. With increasing time after injury, the amplitudes of somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials in rats with mild spinal cord injury increased gradually, and the latencies gradually shortened. In comparison, the recovery times of somatosensory and motor-evoked potential amplitudes and latencies were longer, and the recovery of motor function was delayed in rats with severe spinal cord injury. Correlation analysis revealed that somatosensory-evoked potential and motor-evoked potential parameters were correlated with gross and fine motor function in rats with mild spinal cord contusion injury. In contrast, only somatosensory-evoked potential amplitude was correlated with fine motor skills in rats with severe spinal cord injury. Our results show that changes in both somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials can reflect the changes in gross and fine motor functions after mild spinal cord contusion injury, and that the change in somatosensory-evoked potential amplitude can also reflect the change in fine motor function after severe spinal cord contusion injury. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China (approval No. NFYY-2017-67) on June 11, 2017.

Association of exposure to manganese and fine motor skills in welders - Results from the WELDOX II study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exposure to manganese (Mn) on fine motor functions. A total of 48 welders and 30 unexposed workers as controls completed questionnaires, underwent blood examinations, and a motor test battery. The shift exposure of welders to respirable Mn was measured with personal samplers. For all subjects accumulations of Mn in the brain were assessed with T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Welders showed normal motor functions on the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III. Furthermore welders performed excellent on a steadiness test, showing better results than controls. However, welders were slightly slower than controls in motor tests. There was no association between fine motor test results and the relaxation rates R1 in globus pallidus and substantia nigra as MRI-based biomarkers to quantify Mn deposition in the brain.

Parkinson's Disease and the Gut: Models of an Emerging Relationship

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of fine motor function that impacts 1-2 out of 1,000 people. PD occurs predominately late in life and lacks a definitive biomarker for early detection. Recent cross-disciplinary progress has implicated the gut as a potential origin of PD pathogenesis. The gut-origin hypothesis has motivated research on gut PD pathology and transmission to the brain, especially during the prodromal stage (10-20 years before motor symptom onset). Early findings have revealed several possible triggers for Lewy pathology – the pathological hallmark of PD – in the gut, suggesting that microbiome and epithelial interactions may play a greater than appreciated role. But the mechanisms driving Lewy pathology and gut-brain transmission in PD remain unknown. Development of artificial α-Synuclein aggregates (α-Syn preformed fibrils) and animal disease models have recapitulated features of PD progression, enabling for the first time, controlled investigation of the gut-origin hypothesis. However, the role of specific cells in PD transmission, such as neurons, remains limited and requires in vitro models for controlled evaluation and perturbation. Human cell populations, three-dimensional organoids, and microfluidics as discovery platforms inch us closer to improving existing treatment for patients by providing platforms for discovery and screening. This review includes a discussion of PD pathology, conventional treatments, in vivo and in vitro models, and future directions.

Influence of perinatal complications on the development of a sample of 36-month-old premature infants

ObjectiveThe lack of clear results in previous studies for this context makes us consider an exploratory study. The objective of this research is to examine the influence of certain perinatal factors on the development of premature infants over their first 36 months of life. MethodThe sample consisted of 59 preterm infants born between 25 and 34 weeks of gestational age in an NICU of a third-level hospital. At 36 months of age, the Bayley-III Infant Development Scale (Spanish adaptation) and a clinical history were collected. ResultsThe average scores on the Bayley-III Infant Development Scale were generally within the normal range, but significantly lower than normal for Fine Motor Function, Gross Motor Function, and Expressive Language. These differences remained when considering the degree of prematurity, gender, and perinatal complications. Infants who received mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy or corticosteroid treatment due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed the greatest discrepancies from normal levels. ConclusionOur results support prior studies that show that a combination of perinatal risk factors constitutes the largest determinant for developmental issues at 36 months of age. This information establishes the need for a priority follow-up in this population beyond 24 months of corrected age.

Possible Factors Affecting Pre-School Children's Irregular Posture Formation

Background. A review of the health and physical activity of children and teenagers in Lithuania over the last twenty years has shown that many aspects of pupil physical capacity have deteriorated between 1992 and 2012 (Venckunas, Emeljanovas, Mieziene, & Volbekiene, 2017). Also research has shown that musculoskeletal disorders were most commonly found in children aged 4 to 6 years (Daniusevičiutė-Brazaitė & Grėbliauskienė, 2019). Therefore, if these negative trends continue, the growing health problems will pose a greater threat to human well-being and become a serious financial burden for the state and society. Currently technologies are an integral part of everyday life, so the need for interactive games or animated programs cannot be doubted. Research (Lobel, Engels, Stone, Burk, & Granic, 2017) has shown that the use of play-based intervention for children significantly improves fine and visual motor performance. Hence, it is important to identify the possible factors affecting pre-school children’s irregular posture formation.
 Methods. The study included 377 preschool children from 4 to 6 years old. Three evaluations were performed in the study: posture (using W. K. Hoeger posture assessment methodology), abdominal and back muscle endurance, and balance (Arcinavičius,, Kesminas, & Milčarek, 2004).
 Results. Assessing the results of the shoulder position of 5-year-old children, results showed that only 16% had good shoulder posture, satisfactory – 74%, bad – 10%. Age was found to have no effect on posture assessment results. According to the study, balance, back, and abdominal functional capacity were better in 6-year-old children.
 Conclusion. After analyzing 4-year old children group torso, abdomen, lower spine and legs, we can see that a higher percentage of children had a satisfactory posture in the aforementioned body parts. According to the posture results, the most abnormal part of the body was the abdomen. The study data showed that 6-year-old subjects’ balance, lower spine and abdominal performance were better compared to other age groups.
 Keywords: preschool child, physical activity, posture.

Manual dexterity in late childhood is associated with maturation of the corticospinal tract

PurposeDespite the important role of manual dexterity in child development, the neurobiological mechanisms associated with manual dexterity in childhood remain unclear. We leveraged fixel-based analysis (FBA) to examine the longitudinal association between manual dexterity and the development of white matter structural properties in the corticospinal tract (CST). MethodsHigh angular diffusion weighted imaging (HARDI) data were acquired for 44 right-handed typically developing children (22 female) aged 9-13 across two timepoints (timepoint 1: mean age 10.5 years ± 0.5 years, timepoint 2: 11.8 ± 0.5 years). Manual dexterity was assessed using the Grooved Pegboard Test, a widely used measure of manual dexterity. FBA-derived measures of fiber density and morphology were generated for the CST at each timepoint. Connectivity-based fixel enhancement and mixed linear modelling were used to examine the longitudinal association between manual dexterity and white matter structural properties of the CST. ResultsLongitudinal mixed effects models showed that greater manual dexterity of the dominant hand was associated with increased fiber cross-section in the contralateral CST. Analyses further demonstrated that the rate of improvement in manual dexterity was associated with the rate of increase in fiber cross-section in the contralateral CST between the two timepoints. ConclusionOur longitudinal data suggest that the development of manual dexterity in late childhood is associated with maturation of the CST. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the neurobiological systems that subserve fine motor development and provide an important step toward mapping normative trajectories of fine motor function against microstructural and morphological development in childhood.

Neurodevelopment of HIV-exposed uninfected children in Cape Town, South Africa.

BackgroundEvidence shows that antiretroviral (ART) exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental delays in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed uninfected (HEU) children. However, there are few insights into modifiable maternal and child factors that may play a role in improving neurodevelopment in HEU children. We used a parent-centric neurodevelopment tool, Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to examined neurodevelopment in HEU children at 12–24 months of age, and associations with maternal and child factors.Methods505 HIV-infected women (initiated ART pre- or during pregnancy) with live singleton births attending primary health care were enrolled; 355 of their HEU children were assessed for neurodevelopment (gross motor, fine motor, communication, problem solving and personal-social domains) at 12–24 months using age-specific ASQ administered by a trained fieldworker. Associations with maternal and child factors were examined using logistic regression models.ResultsAmong mothers (median age 30 years, IQR, 26–34), 52% initiated ART during pregnancy; the median CD4 count was 436 cells/μl (IQR, 305–604). Most delayed neurodevelopment in HEU children was in gross (9%) and fine motor (5%) functions. In adjusted models, maternal socio-economic status (aOR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24–0.76) was associated with reduced odds of delayed gross-fine motor neurodevelopment. Maternal age ≥35 years (aOR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05–0.89) and maternal body mass index (BMI) <18.5 (aOR 6.76, 95% CI 1.06–43.13) were associated with delayed communication-problem-solving-personal-social neurodevelopment. There were no differences in odds for either domain by maternal ART initiation timing.ConclusionsDelayed neurodevelopment was detected in both gross and fine motor functions in this cohort of HEU children, with strong maternal predictors that may be explored as potentially modifiable factors associated with neurodevelopment at one to two years of age.

Dexteria app. therapy versus conventional hand therapy in stroke

Purpose Hand impairment post-stroke is a very common and important rehabilitation goal for functional independence. Advanced therapy options such as an app. therapy provides repetitive training, which may be beneficial for improving fine motor function. This study aims to evaluate the effect of app-based therapy compared to conventional hand therapy in improving dexterity in individuals with stroke. Methodology In total, 39 individuals within the first year of stroke with Brunnstrom stage of hand recovery IV to VI were randomly divided into three groups. All three groups received 60 min of therapy for 21 sessions over a period of 30 days. Group A received conventional hand therapy; Group B received app. therapy, while Group C received conventional therapy along with the app. therapy. All participants were assessed on the Nine-Hole Peg Test and Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test at the beginning and after completion of 21 sessions of intervention. Kruskal–Wallis (H) test and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical analysis. Results All three groups improved on hand function post-treatment. However, Group C demonstrated significant improvement with 16%–58% increase in hand function performance on outcome measures (p &lt; 0.05). Findings Findings of the present study demonstrate improvement in dexterity with the app. therapy and combination therapy, in comparison to conventional therapy alone in individuals with stroke. Originality This experimental study focuses the first time on a structured protocol using an enabling technology adjunct to conventional physical therapy to improve hand function in individuals with stroke, which opens up the further scope in Neurorehabilitation. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2020-0144/

Motor sequence learning in children with recovered and persistent developmental stuttering: preliminary findings

PurposePrevious studies have associated developmental stuttering with difficulty learning new motor skills. We investigated non-speech motor sequence learning in children with persistent developmental stuttering (CWS), children who have recovered from developmental stuttering (CRS) and typically developing controls (CON). MethodsOver the course of two days, participants completed the Multi-Finger Sequencing Task, consisting of repeated trials of a10-element sequence, interspersed with trials of random sequences of the same length. We evaluated motor sequence learning using accuracy and response synchrony, a timing measure for evaluation of sequencing timing. We examined error types as well as recognition and recall of the repeated sequences. ResultsCWS demonstrated lower performance accuracy than CON and CRS on the first day of the finger tapping experiment but improved to the performance level of CON and CRS on the second day. Response synchrony showed no overall difference among CWS, CRS and CON.Learning scores of repeated sequences did not differ from learning scores of random sequences in CWS, CRS and CON. CON and CRS demonstrated an adaptive strategy to response errors, whereas CWS maintained a high percentage of corrected errors for both days. ConclusionsOur study examined non-speech sequence learning across CWS, CRS and CON. Our preliminary findings support the idea that developmental stuttering is not associated with sequence learning per se but rather with general fine motor performance difficulties.

Wide temporal horns are associated with cognitive dysfunction, as well as impaired gait and incontinence

The association between morphology of the brain and symptoms of suspected idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is largely unknown. We investigated how ventricular expansion (width of the temporal horns [TH], callosal angle [CA], and Evans’ index [EI]) related to symptom severity in suspected iNPH. Participants (n = 168; 74.9 years ± SD 6.7; 55% females) from the general population underwent neurological examination, computed tomography, and neuropsychological testing. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that wide TH was independently associated with all examined iNPH symptoms (p < 0.01) except for fine-motor performance, whereas a narrow CA only was associated to specific motor and cognitive functions (p < 0.05). TH and EI correlated significantly with incontinence (rs 0.17 and rs 0.16; p < 0.05). In conclusion, wide TH was significantly associated with most iNPH-symptoms. This finding potentially reflects the complex nature of the hippocampus, however further studies are needed to demonstrate functional connectivity.

Lentiviral Interleukin-10 Gene Therapy Preserves Fine Motor Circuitry and Function After a Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Male and Female Mice.

In mammals, spinal cord injuries often result in muscle paralysis through the apoptosis of lower motor neurons and denervation of neuromuscular junctions. Previous research shows that the inflammatory response to a spinal cord injury can cause additional tissue damage after the initial trauma. To modulate this inflammatory response, we delivered lentiviral anti-inflammatory interleukin-10, via loading onto an implantable biomaterial scaffold, into a left-sided hemisection at the C5 vertebra in mice. We hypothesized that improved behavioral outcomes associated with anti-inflammatory treatment are due to the sparing of fine motor circuit components. We examined behavioral recovery using a ladder beam, tissue sparing using histology, and electromyogram recordings using intraspinal optogenetic stimulation at 2weeks post-injury. Ladder beam analysis shows interleukin-10 treatment results in significant improvement of behavioral recovery at 2 and 12weeks post-injury when compared to mice treated with a control virus. Histology shows interleukin-10 results in greater numbers of lower motor neurons, axons, and muscle innervation at 2weeks post-injury. Furthermore, electromyogram recordings suggest that interleukin-10-treated animals have signal-to-noise ratios and peak-to-peak amplitudes more similar to that of uninjured controls than to that of control injured animals at 2weeks post-injury. These data show that gene therapy using anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 can significantly reduce tissue damage and subsequent motor deficits after a spinal cord injury. Together, these results suggest that early modulation of the injury response can preserve muscle function with long-lasting benefits.

Surgical Outcomes in Patients Operated for Cervical Myelopathy using Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire

Study Design: This was a retrospective case series. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the surgical outcomes of patients with cervical myelopathy, using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ). Summary of Background Data: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of morbidity. Patients present with spasticity, gait imbalance, and loss of fine motor function. Most patients present early; however, few manage with disability for years and present late. Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy from 2008 to 2013; however, detailed follow-up was available in only 42 patients. Thirty-nine patients were ambulatory, while 3 were non-ambulatory at the outset. Nineteen patients underwent anterior surgery and 23 patients underwent posterior surgery. Frankel, Nurick grades, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and JOACMEQ scores were recorded at time of admission, 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks, and then annually. Outcomes at final follow-up were included for statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-four (81%) patients improved, 4 (9.5%) patients remained static, and 4 (9.5%) patients worsened according to Nurick scale. Nurick grades improved from 3.52 to 1.64. Mean NDI scores improved from 42.28 to 20.28. Analyzing the JOACMEQ scores, cervical spine function improved in 15 (35.7%), upper extremity (UE) function improved in 33 (78.6%) patients, while lower extremity (LE) function improved in 32 (76.2%) patients. Bladder function improved in 17 (40.47%). Quality of life improved in 37 (88.1%) patients. LE improved more than UE, in the younger (&lt;45 years) group, and in those with subaxial myelopathy. Pre-operative symptoms greater than 12 months had a negative impact on outcome. Pre-operative neurology, approach, and instrumentation did not impact outcomes. Four (9.5%) patients developed major neurological deficit, 4 (9.5%) patients had C5 deltoid palsy, while 1 patient had

Iodine Supplementation in Mildly Iodine-Deficient Pregnant Women Does Not Improve Maternal Thyroid Function or Child Development: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may be associated with lower offspring IQ, but there are few data on the safety and efficacy of maternal iodine supplementation on child development. In a previously reported multi-center randomized trial conducted in Thailand and India, we assessed the effect of iodine supplementation in mildly iodine-deficient pregnant women on offspring development. In this secondary analysis of that trial, we report data only from the Thai pregnant women in the study, who were more iodine deficient at entry.Methods: Pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand, were randomized to receive daily 200 μg oral iodine or placebo until delivery. We assessed thyroid size and thyroid function during pregnancy and cognitive and motor development at ages 1, 2, and 5.7 years. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT00791466.Findings: Women (n = 514) entered the trial between November 2008 and March 2011 at a mean ± SD gestational age of 11 ± 2.8 weeks; their median (IQR) UIC was 112 (75, 170) μg/L. Mean compliance with supplementation was 88%. We assessed 397 mothers in the 3rd trimester, 231 infants at age 2 y, and 157 children at mean age 5.7 y. During pregnancy, there was a slightly greater decrease in free and total thyroxine concentrations in the iodine group (p < 0.05). At age 2 years, the iodine group had borderline lower scores for combined fine and gross motor function (p = 0.05), but there were no other significant differences in development. At 5.7 years, there were no significant group differences in child development.Conclusion: Daily iodine supplementation in mildly iodine deficient pregnant women was associated with small negative effects on maternal thyroxine concentrations, but did not affect child development. The safety and efficacy of iodine supplementation in mildly-iodine deficient pregnant women needs to be evaluated further in large randomized controlled trials.

Understanding motor difficulties in children with ADHD: A fixel-based analysis of the corticospinal tract

AimsChildren with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often present with deficits in fine motor control. The cortico-spinal tract (CST) is critical for voluntary motor control. Although neuroimaging work has identified anomalous microstructural properties in the CST in ADHD, no study to date has attempted to investigate the link between deficits in fine motor performance and microstructural properties of the CST in children with ADHD. This study aimed to address this gap using a novel fixel-based analysis (FBA). MethodsParticipants were 50 right-handed medication naïve children with a history of ADHD and 56 non-ADHD controls aged 9–11 years. Fine motor control was assessed using the Grooved Pegboard task. Children underwent high angular resolution diffusion MRI. Following pre-processing, FBA was performed and the semi-automated deep-learning TractSeg was used to delineate the CST bilaterally. Fibre density (FD), fibre cross-section (FC-log), and fibre density/cross-section (FDC) were extracted for each tract. ResultsChildren with ADHD performed significantly worse than non-ADHD children on the Grooved Pegboard task when using their non-dominant hand. They also demonstrated widespread significantly lower diffusion metrics in both CSTs compared to non-ADHD controls. However, no correlations were observed between Grooved Pegboard performance and diffusion metrics for the CST in either hemisphere. ConclusionsWhile we failed to detect a significant relationship between fine motor skill and FBA metrics in either group, this paper extends previous work by showing that children with ADHD and reduced fine motor competence demonstrate atypical microstructure within the CST relative to non-ADHD controls.

419 - Brain atrophy asymmetry in dementia is worsened by social isolation: A translational neuroscience approach in times of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19)

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) that has ravaged the entire world presents the most dramatic scenarios in the most vulnerable populations, with exacerbated focus on the elderly people, especially the most frail needing home-care or living in nursing homes. The urgency and severity of the outbreaks forces the use of segregation in restricted areas and confinement in individual rooms as desperate strategies to avoid the spreading of disease and the worse scenario of becoming a deadly trap. Residents are becoming socially isolated, lacking the social and environmental enrichment that are key rehabilitation factors against their progressive physical and/or mental deterioration. Recently, a study on gender perspective in COVID -19 found that men have more severe disease and are over twice as likely to die. It is well known that dementia is associated with increased mortality and males show worse survival than females. On the other hand, the asymmetric neurodegeneration of subcortical structures in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been recently demonstrated and proposed as a powerful imaging biomarker. In the present work, we studied the impact of long-term isolation in old male 3xTg-AD mice modeling advanced-stages of AD and as compared to age-matched counterparts with normal aging. A battery of behavioral tests resembling several areas in nursery homes was used. Atrophy of left and right hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum was measured. Our results are the first evidences of brain atrophy asymmetry being demonstrated in an animal model of AD, thus modeling that found in human patients. The main findings aware of a consistent impact of isolation increasing the hippocampal and cortical atrophy asymmetries. Isolated animals showed a prominent hyperactive pattern in both gross and fine-motor functions, re-structured negative valence system with the emergence of bizarre behaviors and flight copying-with-stress strategies. Overall, these results from translational neuroscience aware of the impact of isolation enhancing the neurodegenerative asymmetry and BPSD-like behaviors. They also highlight the relevance of personalized-based interventions tailored to the heterogeneous and complex clinical profile of the individuals with dementia, and to pay special attention to BPSD behaviors that may worse their caregivers’ burden in these times of coronavirus and post-COVID-19 pandemic scenario.

Occupational therapy in the preschool classroom - Promoting fine motor and visual motor skills for kindergarten readiness

ABSTRACT Fine motor performance skills are essential for children’s successful educational participation. Kindergarten curriculums are increasingly academic with less emphasis on play-based learning. Increased expectations for kindergarten readiness do not align with developmental milestones. Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to support students and teachers with preparing for kindergarten. This six-week collaborative intervention utilized fine motor and sensory activity centers, integrated within the classroom, to promote kindergarten readiness for 16 preschool students. Pre- and post-testing indicated clinically significant gains in readiness skills. Results of this pilot study support the effectiveness of integrating occupational therapy within the preschool classroom to improve kindergarten readiness skills.

Cognitive impairment in the HTLV-1 infection: a comparative study associated with functional performance.

Human T cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-1) infection courses with a myelopathy, the tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). In a case-control study, we compared the neuropsychological profile and functional characteristics in two case HTLV-1-infected groups (asymptomatic and with HAM/TSP) with a control group negative for HTLV-1. Subjects were paired for age, sex, and educational features. The case group differed from control group in neuropsychological measures such as in episodic memory recall, executive functions, and fine motor dexterity measure. Individuals with HAM/TSP have more depressive symptoms and worst performance in activities of daily living (ADL) presenting a less functionality. In multivariate models, the fine motor performance, the executive functioning, the recognition memory, and the depressive symptoms explained part of the variance in functionality. Those findings may contribute to understand of everyday life impairments and limitations of HTLV-1-infected population and to organize the rehabilitation. Once more, based in neuropsychological and functional data, we can reaffirm that HTLV-1 is never a benign condition, but sometimes it is only in a stage coursing with less symptoms.

The Role of Occupational Therapy with Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Canadian National Survey

ABSTRACT Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurobehavioral disorder prevalent in childhood, demonstrate a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactive and/or impulsive behavior that is more severe than their typically developing peers. Much of this challenging behavior is observed in the classroom. However, current literature on ADHD for school-aged children largely examines issues of clinical diagnosis and pharmacological management. Consequently, the associated challenges in functional limitations and participation restrictions that these children demonstrate have not been well examined. Fortunately, as members of the school-based team, occupational therapists are uniquely suited to address this important perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) identify the scope of occupational therapy (OT) practices in assessment, intervention and service delivery with children/youth with ADHD across Canada, 2) indicate potential research and practice gaps, and 3) discuss future implications with respect to OT intervention for children with ADHD. A bilingual national survey was created based on a comprehensive literature review and consultation with experts in pediatrics and knowledge translation. The survey link was sent to pediatric occupational therapists across Canada through mailing lists obtained from national and provincial organizations. A total of 172 surveys were completed (response rate = 10%). The majority of respondents reported that children with ADHD comprised 26–75% of their caseloads. More than 90% of respondents reported using OT interventions to address skills related to impairments (sensory processing), activity (fine motor function), and participation (school functioning) in their treatment of children with attentional disorders. OTs frequently reported using sensory-based principles to address the behavioral symptoms of children with ADHD. The most common form of service delivery was individualized sessions, followed by consultation. Potential gaps and implications at the research, practice and organizational levels are discussed to further support the role of OT with school-aged children with ADHD.

The Effect of Functional Capacity Related Ergonomic Risk Factors on Quality of Life of People with Physical Disability

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ergonomic risk factors and the problems of functional capacity and their effect on quality of life of people with physical disability. Material and Method: 52 people with physical disability were assessed. Demographical properties, medical and working history have been obtained. Ergonomic risk factors have been analyzed with Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and General Ergonomic Risk Analysis Checklist. Muscles strength, pinch strength, grip strength, lifting strength were measured at J-TECH computerized functional capacity assessment unit. Quality of life was assessed by SF-36 Health Survey. Results have been correlated by Spearman correlation test. Results: 12 women and 40 men included in the study whose average age is 37.15± 9.66. Most of the participants have been found to work at high risk postures and this give rise to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. High risk at work areas has been observed to be related to some parameters of quality of life. When compared with quality of life which is investigated by SF-36 Health Survey, general health status perception is found to be related by many risk factors (p&amp;lt; 0.05). In addition to, general health perception is found to be affected by social function as much as physical function. The importance of pinch strength, grip strength, lifting strength and upper extremity strength in perception of quality of life has been shown. Relationship has been occurred between fine motor function and also lifting and grip strength and general health status perception (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The work of participants including fine motor movements has been found to affect the perception of general health, physical role and energy/ vitality. Conclusion: The results show that projects for increasing productivity and satisfaction of people with physical disability at work should be done and increasing awareness of the employers about functional capacity related ergonomic risk factors is important.

Terapi Seni bagi Anak Autis

Special needs children are children who need special treatment due to disorder on physical and psychological growth functions. One example of this disorder is autism. Autism is a disorder that includes cognitive, emotional, behavioral and social areas. In fact, children with autism have potential that is often overlooked. Art can help deal with this problem by applying various techniques of art therapy such as cutting, sticking and painting with a variety of media materials, textures, colors and shapes. Autistic children will get a pleasant and calming experience and other positive benefits. The creativity program for autistic children under the Percik Insani Foundation is in the form of art training that focuses on exploration and expression of every autistic child in the hope of improving fine motor function, creativity, self-potential and self-confidence that can help children to grow better and live more independently.