Evaluation of Hand Strength, Handwriting, and Functional Skills in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

Abstract

Dysgraphia and difficulty in activities of daily living skill are well documented in the research database as impairments affecting children with developmental coordination disorder. Pinch and grip strength has a predominant role in various activities of daily living skills, and a child can fulfil the playing skill only with good pinch and grip strength. To estimate hand strength evolution difference in children with developmental coordination disorder and to analyze the correlations in grip and pinch strength, handwriting and its components, and activities of daily living skills in children with and without developmental coordination disorder. Twenty children were selected and assigned into two groups, typically developing children and children with DCD. Each child was evaluated with pinch and grip strength, handwriting speed and legibility, pencil grip, and levels of performance in functional skills. When considering the strength development pattern, there exists a similar trend in children with and without DCD. Grip strength is having a perfect correlation with pencil control in both children with and without DCD. Handwriting is poor in the children with DCD but not in children without DCD. This study provides evidence that grip and pinch strength are important components when considering therapeutic intervention for enhancing handwriting skill in children with DCD.