Measures Of Fine Motor Skills Research Articles

The Relative Strengths of Relationships Between Fine Motor Skills, Working Memory, Processing Speed and Fluid Intelligence in Early Elementary School Children.

The goal in the present paper was to examine the combined and relative impact of fine motor ability, auditory working memory, and processing speed on fluid intelligence in a sample of early elementary school students. Our participant sample was 145 children (Mage = 9.1years, SD = 1.1; 80 boys, 65 girls). We used the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices Test as a measure of fluid intelligence and five other measures to represent the three predictor variables: the Grooved Pegboard Test as a measure of fine motor skills, Digit Span Forwards and Digit Span Backwards tests as measures of working memory, and Rapid Automatized Naming and Letter-Digit Substitution tasks as measures of processing speed. Regression analyses indicated that only two of these measures had a statistically significant association with the fluid intelligence test scores, namely, scores on the Grooved Pegboard (fine motor skills) and Digit Span Backwards (working memory) tests, with these two measures explaining 35% of the variance in the fluid intelligence test scores. Thus, fine motor skills and working memory were correlated with fluid intelligence in early elementary-grade students. Until the directions of these relationships are better understood, we might assume that interventions aiming to increase young children's fluid intelligence, or at least their intelligence scores, might partly target working memory and fine motor skills.

The Effect of the Use of Kinetic Sand as a Stimulation Media for Fine Motor Development in Preschool Children at RA Al-Masithoh Karangploso

Fine motor skill is a developmental aspect that focuses on the ability of certain eye and limb coordination. To optimizing improvement children motor skills, stimulation is necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the use of kinetic sand as a stimulation media for fine motor development in preschool children. This study uses a pre experimental type one group pretest posttest design. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with a sample of 21 respondents. The results of the measurement of fine motor skills before getting stimulation most of the children is 65.2 percent included in the category of not yet capable while after getting stimulation most of the respondents is 73.91 percent were in the category of being able. Wilcoxons Signed Rank Test statistic test results show that same with 0.05. The results of the analysis show that value has a value of 0.000 or smaller than 0.05, so that H1 is acceptedd. Therefore, it can be stated that there is an effect of the use of kinetic sand as a stimulation medium for fine motor development in preschool children. It is expected that parents who have preschool children can make kinetic sand as a medium for stimulating fine motor development.

Children with neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia are not as school ready as their peers.

We aimed to determine whether children with neonatal Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) differ from their peers on measures of fine motor skills, executive function, language and general cognitive abilities, factors that are important for school readiness. We compared school readiness in 31children with HIE treated with TH (without Cerebral Palsy; mean age 5years 4months) with 20 typically developing children without HIE (mean age 5years 6months). Children with HIE scored significantly lower than typically developing children on fine motor skills, executive functions, memory and language. While general cognitive abilities and attainment were in the normal range, our findings suggest those scores mask specific underlying difficulties identified by more focussed assessments. Children with HIE treated with TH may not be as 'school ready' as their typically developing classmates and may benefit from long-term follow-up until starting school.

Children's sensorimotor development in relation to screen-media usage: A two-year longitudinal study

During typical childhood interactions with screen-media, input is dominated by visual signals, with a likely reduction in haptic, proprioceptive, and fine motor domains. We present the first study to investigate sensorimotor skills in a detailed manner, using a two-year longitudinal design on a sample of 117 preschool children. We measured screen-time and sensorimotor development in a differentiated manner, including measures of fine motor skills (FMS), haptic, proprioceptive, visual-haptic integration, and visual-shape discrimination. Further, we accounted for vocabulary, working memory and the purpose of media use (learning vs. entertainment; active vs. passive) via a parent-report questionnaire and a novel child-administered Media-Titles Test. Results indicated that, generally, media usage was associated with worse haptic and FMS, but better visual-shape discrimination. Visual-haptic integration and proprioception were not predicted by screen-media. Findings are discussed in terms of the differential effects of screen-media on sensorimotor skill.

Techniques and methods for monitoring the evolution of upper limb fine motor skills

Introduction: This review article is the product of research on the methods, techniques and devices used in the measurement of fine motor skills of upper limbs and its respective evolution, developed at Universidad del Cauca in 2018. Problem: Objective measurement of the evolution of upper limb motor skills in the rehabilitation processes. Objective: To identify the conventional techniques and electronic devices used in the measurement of the evolution of upper limb motor ability. Methodology: Four scientific databases were reviewed in addition to the Google Scholar search engine. The keywords used for the search were: "fine motor skills", "hand measurement", "hand rehabilitation"and "hand function", among others. Results: Approximately 3840 articles related to the subject were found. When applying the exclusion criteria, the article number to be revised was reduced to 63, which were analyzed in the present review. Conclusions: The tools applied by health professionals are convenient due to their rapid execution and easy access, however they can be subject to human error since they depend on the experience of the user. Electronic systems present objective measurements, however, their complexity and cost are high. Originality: This work presents information on the therapeutic techniques and technological devices used, in certain pathologies, for the evaluation of upper limb motor ability. Limitations: Not all articles analyzed have a detailed description of the people in which the studies were conducted.

Fine motor skills and mental imagery: Is it all in the mind?

Previous work has indicated that children’s fine motor skills (FMS) contribute to cognitive performance in a number of domains. A philosophically and scientifically central aspect of cognitive skill is the ability to mentally simulate external events; however, very little research has examined whether FMS relate to mental imagery. Children aged 35–129 months (N = 294) were administered measures of FMS and mental imagery. Control variables included working memory, vocabulary, visual closure, chronological age, and a vast array of stimulus lexical features. Multilevel linear models indicated that FMS uniquely predicted mental imagery abilities, as did visual closure, chronological age, and various lexical features, whereas working memory and vocabulary did not. Findings are taken to support the idea that both mental imagery and FMS share, in part, similar functional systems.

Kinematic analysis of fast pen strokes in children with ADHD

In this study, we aimed to determine whether a new measure of fine motor skills, the Pen Stroke Test (PST), can discriminate between children with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twelve children with ADHD and 12 controls age 8–11 were asked to produce handwriting strokes on a digitizer. The sigma-lognormal model derived from the Kinematic Theory of rapid human movements was used to analyze the strokes. Standard measurements of fine motor skills and handwriting were also obtained. Children with ADHD demonstrated poorer motor planning (t0, D) and execution (nbLog) and greater variability in motor control (SNR/nbLog) than did controls. Parameters extracted from the PST were significantly correlated with performance on other motor and handwriting measures. This study provides preliminary evidence that the PST may be useful as a tool for rapidly detecting motor skill problems in the context of ADHD.

Higher fasting plasma glucose is associated with smaller striatal volume and poorer fine motor skills in a longitudinal cohort

Previous studies have demonstrated associations between higher blood glucose and brain atrophy and functional deficits, however, little is known about the association between blood glucose, striatal volume and striatal function despite sensori-motor deficits being reported in diabetes. This study investigated the relationship between blood glucose levels, striatal volume and fine motor skills in a longitudinal cohort of cognitively healthy individuals living in the community with normal or impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes. Participants were 271 cognitively healthy individuals (mean age 63 years at inclusion) with normal fasting glucose levels (<5.6 mmol/L) (n=173), impaired fasting glucose (5.6–6.9 mmol/L) (n=57), or with type 2 diabetes (≥7.0 mmol/L) (n=41). Fasting glucose, Purdue Pegboard scores as measurement of fine motor skills, and brain scans were collected at wave 1, 2 and 4, over a total follow-up of twelve years. Striatal volumes were measured using FreeSurfer after controlling for age, sex and intracranial volume. Results showed that type 2 diabetes was associated with smaller right putamen volume and lower Purdue Pegboard scores after controlling for age, sex and intracranial volume. These findings add to the evidence suggesting that higher blood glucose levels, especially type 2 diabetes, may impair brain structure and function.

Fine motor skills enhance lexical processing of embodied vocabulary: A test of the nimble-hands, nimble-minds hypothesis.

Research suggests that fine motor skills (FMS) are linked to aspects of cognitive development in children. Additionally, lexical processing advantages exist for words implying a high body-object interaction (BOI), with initial findings indicating that such words in turn link to children's FMS-for which we propose and evaluate four competing hypotheses. First, a maturational account argues that any links between FMS and lexical processing should not exist once developmental variables are controlled for. Second, functionalism posits that any link between FMS and lexical processing arises due to environmental interactions. Third, the semantic richness hypothesis argues that sensorimotor input improves lexical processing, but predicts no links between FMS and lexical processing. A fourth account, the nimble-hands, nimble minds (NHNM) hypothesis, proposes that having greater FMS improves lexical processing for high-BOI words. In two experiments, the response latencies of preschool children (n = 90, n = 76, ages = 5;1) to 45 lexical items encompassing high-BOI, low-BOI, and less imageable words were measured, alongside measures of FMS, reasoning, and general receptive/expressive vocabulary. High-BOI words appeared to show unique links to FMS, which remained after accounting for low-BOI and less imageable words, general vocabulary, reasoning, and chronological age. Although further work is needed, the findings provide initial support for the NHNM hypothesis.

Neurocognitive predictors of mathematical processing in school-aged children with spina bifida and their typically developing peers: Attention, working memory, and fine motor skills.

Math and attention are related in neurobiological and behavioral models of mathematical cognition. This study employed model-driven assessments of attention and math in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM), who have known math difficulties and specific attentional deficits, to more directly examine putative relations between attention and mathematical processing. The relation of other domain general abilities and math was also investigated. Participants were 9.5-year-old children with SBM (n = 44) and typically developing children (n = 50). Participants were administered experimental exact and approximate arithmetic tasks, and standardized measures of math fluency and calculation. Cognitive measures included the Attention Network Test (ANT), and standardized measures of fine motor skills, verbal working memory (WM), and visual-spatial WM. Children with SBM performed similarly to peers on exact arithmetic, but more poorly on approximate and standardized arithmetic measures. On the ANT, children with SBM differed from controls on orienting attention, but not on alerting and executive attention. Multiple mediation models showed that fine motor skills and verbal WM mediated the relation of group to approximate arithmetic; fine motor skills and visual-spatial WM mediated the relation of group to math fluency; and verbal and visual-spatial WM mediated the relation of group to math calculation. Attention was not a significant mediator of the effects of group for any aspect of math in this study. Results are discussed with reference to models of attention, WM, and mathematical cognition.

Objective measurement of fine motor skills in common diseases of the hand

Objective measurement of fine motor skills in common diseases of the hand

Measurement of Fine-Motor Skills in Young Children with Visual Impairment

Insight into the typical motor development of children with visual impairment (VI) is necessary in order to recognise whether children with VI are at risk of motor developmental problems, and to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise interventions. In 2003 the ManuVis was published with reference values for children with VI of ages from 6 to 11 years. This paper reports on a follow-up study of the ManuVis focused on: a) comparison of fine motor skills between children with VI and normal sighted (NS) children; b) sampling norm-references for children with VI in the 4-11 years age range to increase validity; and c) test-retest and inter-rater reliability. In total 256 children with VI and 162 NS children were included in the study. The results demonstrated that children with VI needed significantly more time than NS children to perform all test items, especially at younger ages. Performance time decreased in both children with VI and NS children from the younger to the older age groups, but NS children reached their minimum at a younger age. Test-retest reliability on the items varied from moderate to excellent and inter-rater reliability was excellent. The results suggest that children with VI have slower and more prolonged motor learning than NS children. The ManuVis differentiates between typical and atypical fine-motor performance of children with VI between 4 and 9 years of age, and is useful for monitoring fine-motor skills in children with VI from 4 years to (at least) 11 years.

Measures of fine motor skills in people with tremor disorders: appraisal and interpretation.

People with Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, or other movement disorders involving tremor have changes in fine motor skills that are among the hallmarks of these diseases. Numerous measurement tools have been created and other methods devised to measure such changes in fine motor skills. Measurement tools may focus on specific features – e.g., motor skills or dexterity, slowness in movement execution associated with parkinsonian bradykinesia, or magnitude of tremor. Less obviously, some tools may be better suited than others for specific goals such as detecting subtle dysfunction early in disease, revealing aspects of brain function affected by disease, or tracking changes expected from treatment or disease progression. The purpose of this review is to describe and appraise selected measurement tools of fine motor skills appropriate for people with tremor disorders. In this context, we consider the tools’ content – i.e., what movement features they focus on. In addition, we consider how measurement tools of fine motor skills relate to measures of a person’s disease state or a person’s function. These considerations affect how one should select and interpret the results of these tools in laboratory and clinical contexts.

Single Rescuer Exertion Using a Mechanical Resuscitation Device: A Randomized Controlled Simulation Study

The goal of this experimental study was to investigate rescuer exertion when using "Animax," a manually operated hand-powered mechanical resuscitation device (MRD) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), compared to standard basic life support (BLS). This was a prospective, open, randomized, crossover simulation study. After being trained, 80 medical students with substantial knowledge in BLS performed one-rescuer CPR using either the MRD or the standard BLS for 12-minute intervals in random order. The main outcome parameter was the heart rate pressure product (RPP) as an index of cardiac work. Secondary outcome parameters were physical exhaustion quantified by the Borg scale (measurement of perceived exertion), Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT; measurement of fine motor skills), and capillary lactate concentration during testing. While no significant difference could be found for the RPP, a significantly increased mean heart rate during the final minute of standard BLS compared to the MRD was found (139 ± 22 beats/min vs. 135 ± 26 beats/min, p = 0.027). By contrast, subjective exertion using the MRD was rated significantly higher on the Borg scale (15.1 ± 2.4 vs. 14.6 ± 2.6, p = 0.027). Mean serum lactate concentration was significantly higher when the MRD was used compared to standard BLS (3.4 ± 1.5 mmol/L vs. 2.1 ± 1.3 mmol/L, p ≤ 0.001). Use of the MRD leads to a RPP of the rescuers comparable to standard BLS. These findings suggest that there is no clinically relevant reduction of exertion if this MRD is used by a single rescuer. If this kind of MRD is used for CPR, frequent changeovers with a second rescuer should be considered as the guidelines suggest for standard CPR.

Randomized Crossover Trial Comparing Physical Strain on Advanced Life Support Providers During Transportation Using Real-time Automated Feedback

Feedback devices provide verbal and visual real-time information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality. Feedback devices can improve the quality of CPR during transportation. It remains unclear if feedback has an effect on the physical strain felt by providers during ongoing CPR. The objective was to assess the influence of real-time automated feedback on physical strain of rescuers during ongoing chest compressions in different means of transportation. The study was a randomized crossover trial comparing physical strain on advanced life support (ALS) providers during chest compressions using real-time automated feedback in different transport environments: 1) a moving ambulance and 2) a flying helicopter. The authors measured objective and subjective measures of physical strain and calculated the difference in the rate pressure product (RPP) after 8 minutes of external chest compressions. There was no difference in the RPP (mean intraindividual difference = 21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1,438 to 1,480; p = 0.98) between using the feedback device versus no feedback. There was no significant interaction of vehicle type on the effect of feedback on the RPP. Feedback resulted in a significant mean perceived exertion reduction of a Borg scale score by 0.89 points (95% CI = 0.42 to 1.35; p < 0.001). For systolic and diastolic blood pressure, for serum lactate concentrations, and for the modified Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT; measurement of fine motor skills), we found no statistically significant differences. Feedback devices for CPR during transportation do not have an effect on objective components of physical strain, but decrease perceived exertion in experienced rescuers in an experimental setting.

Validation of a Testbed as a Screening Tool for Telepresence Systems in Terms of Fine-Motor Performance

Telepresence systems have the potential to assume an important role in on-orbit servicing scenarios. Compared to manned missions, these systems offer a safer and less expensive way to operate in outer space. One of the main goals of telepresence research is to determine whether immersive telepresence systems are able to achieve a level of efficiency which is equal to that of astronauts in tasks that require fine motor movement and dexterity. In addressing this question, it is of relevance that astronauts' fine-motor skills are restricted by a range of factors including weightlessness and space suits. In order to compare in future studies the efficiency of a telepresence system and suited astronauts in performing fine-motor tasks, a testbed was developed with typical on-orbit servicing tasks which were designed to guarantee maximum external validity. An experimental study showed that the testbed is a valid measure of fine-motor skills. Two follow-up studies examined the potentially debilitating influence of a range of factors on fine-motor performance in extravehicular activities, such as a restricted field of view, a destabilized body posture, restricted mobility, and reduced haptic feedback. The results of these studies offer a basis for comparisons between the performance of common extravehicular activities and telepresence systems on fine-motor tasks.

Effect of Using a Treadmill Workstation on Performance of Simulated Office Work Tasks

Although using a treadmill workstation may change the sedentary nature of desk jobs, it is unknown if walking while working affects performance on office-work related tasks. To assess differences between seated and walking conditions on motor skills and cognitive function tests. Eleven males (24.6 +/- 3.5 y) and 9 females (27.0 +/- 3.9 y) completed a test battery to assess selective attention and processing speed, typing speed, mouse clicking/drag-and-drop speed, and GRE math and reading comprehension. Testing was performed under seated and walking conditions on 2 separate days using a counterbalanced, within subjects design. Participants did not have an acclimation period before the walking condition. Paired t tests (P < .05) revealed that in the seated condition, completion times were shorter for mouse clicking (26.6 +/- 3.0 vs. 28.2 +/- 2.5s) and drag-and-drop (40.3 +/- 4.2 vs. 43.9 +/- 2.5s) tests, typing speed was greater (40.2 +/- 9.1 vs. 36.9 +/- 10.2 adjusted words x min(-1)), and math scores were better (71.4 +/- 15.2 vs. 64.3 +/- 13.4%). There were no significant differences between conditions in selective attention and processing speed or in reading comprehension. Compared with the seated condition, treadmill walking caused a 6% to 11% decrease in measures of fine motor skills and math problem solving, but did not affect selective attention and processing speed or reading comprehension.

Motor function profile in children with early onset hydrocephalus

A test of motor development (McCarron, 1976) was administered to 42 children between the ages of 5 and 15 who had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus in the 1 st year of life and treated with the placement of a shunt. Four domains of motor function were assessed: (a) persistent motor control; (b) strength; (c) balance, gait, and posture; and (d) fine motor skills. As a group, these children were impaired on measures of balance, gait, and posture, and upper and lower extremity strength. Performance on measures of fine motor skills and persistent motor control were significantly below average. The motor function profile of the group of children with hydrocephalus resulting from myelomeningocele and aqueduct stenosis, etiologies with a congenital onset (n = 23), differed from that of the group of children with hydrocephalus resulting from intraventricular hemorrhage and infections or adhesions, etiologies with an infantile onset (n = 19). Although their individual contribution is yet to be established, handed‐ness and sex were each related to motor function. Results are discussed in relation to known differences in neuropathology associated with the various etiologies of congenital and infantile hydrocephalus.

Motor proficiency of learning disabled and nondisabled students.

The motor proficiency of 55 learning disabled and 55 nondisabled students was compared on a comprehensive battery of motor-skills tests. Learning disabled students performed significantly lower than nondisabled students on measures of fine motor skills and on measures of gross motor skills. Their greatest deficiencies were on tasks requiring body equilibrium, controlled fine visual-motor movements, and bilateral coordination of movements involving different parts of the body. All of these areas include complex motor patterns that require the integration of visual and kinesthetic senses with motor responses. Implications of these findings for the development of motor training programs and for future research are discussed.

Performances of Articulatory Defective, Minimal Brain Dysfunctioning, and Normal Children on Dichotic Ear Preference, Laterality, and Fine-Motor Skills Tasks

A dichotic word task, a measure of fine-motor skills, and a test of laterality were administered to 60 children aged 5 years-7 months to 10 years-6 months. Fifteen subjects had normal articulation, 15 mild articulatory defectiveness, 15 severe articulatory defectiveness, and 15 were diagnosed as having minimal brain dysfunction (MBD). When the results of the dichotic word test were analyzed, all Ss were found to have the expected left cerebral dominance for speech except those having severe articulation disorders. A high linear relationship was found between articulation errors and ear choices on the dichotic word task. Some relationships of moderate importance linked Ss' performances on the tests of motor skills to their dichotic ear choices. Relationships were found between ear choices and numbers of articulation errors. Traditional measures of laterality were found not to be related to cerebral processing of speech as assessed using dichotic tasks.