Research Update: The correlation between proprioception and handwriting legibility in children

A Student OT sent me this article about handwriting, which they discovered while writing an essay on dance. The study by Hong et al (2016) tested join position sense using traditional tests and tested kinesthesia with the Kinesthesia Test (KIN) from the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test as one of its measures. They concluded that;

“a highly accurate KS was associated with higher legibility scores…

…KS provides ongoing error information and memory storage to be recalled when writing is repeated. A high KS leads to programmed error correction, and the upgraded program generates better writing legibility. The results of this study support the hypothesis that KS reinforces the linkage between visual and motor control required for clear handwriting^)”

Abstract:

This study investigated the association between proprioception, including joint position sense and kinetic sense, and handwriting legibility in healthy children.

[Subjects and Methods] Assessment of joint position sense, kinetic sense, and handwriting legibility was conducted for 19 healthy children. Joint position sense was assessed by asking the children to flex their right elbow between 30° to 110° while blindfolded. The range of elbow movement was analyzed with Compact Measuring System 10 for 3D motion Analysis. Kinetic sense was assessed using the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. The children were directed to write 30 words from the Korean alphabet, and the legibility of their handwriting was scored for form, alignment, space, size, and shape. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation analysis were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0. [Results] There was significant negative correlation between handwriting legibility and Kinetic sense. A significant correlation between handwriting legibility and Joint position sense was not found.

[Conclusion] This study showed that a higher Kinetic sense was associated with better legibility of handwriting. Further work is needed to determine the association of handwriting legibility and speed with Joint position sense of the elbow, wrist, and fingers.