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Joint laxity in the index finger and thumb and its relationship to pencil grasps used by children
Author(s) -
Summers Janet
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1046/j.0045-0766.2001.00247.x
Subject(s) - thumb , pencil (optics) , index finger , interphalangeal joint , grasp , metacarpophalangeal joint , orthodontics , psychology , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , computer science , anatomy , engineering , mechanical engineering , programming language
The pencil grasps of 55 Australian 7‐year‐old children were analysed to determine if joint laxity in the distal interphalangeal joint of the index finger and the interphalangeal joint and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb influenced the development of grasps that deviate from the dynamic tripod grasp. Laxity was determined using torque range of motion, and descriptive analysis of the pencil grasp was undertaken during three writing tasks. Laxity occurred in 71% of the children in at least one joint. Four pencil grasps were identified based on the position of the thumb and the number of digits on the pencil shaft. Trends indicated that laxity, especially in the interphalangeal joint of the thumb, is an influence on the pencil grasp used; however, these trends were not statistically significant.