Hand Grip Strength and Fine Motor Skills in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Rajeswari Muthusamy, Ramachandran Padmanabhan, Binu Ninan, Sailakshmi Ganesan

Rajeswari Muthusamy, Ramachandran Padmanabhan, Binu Ninan, Sailakshmi Ganesan – Hand Grip Strength and Fine Motor Skills in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Fizjoterapia Polska 2020; 20(4); 72-77

Abstract

Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is primarily considered as psychiatric disorder but physical features are associated with it. Motor impairments are manifested as both delays and deficits, with delays found in gross motor, fine motor and speech domains and deficits found in praxis, coordination and gait. Gross motor functions develop overtime but fine motor is still found to be delayed even at the age of three years. Hand Grip Strength (HGS) is reduced in ASD which might be one of the factors for dependent functional fine motor task. The extent of muscle weakness and its impact on fine motor skills (FMS) is not clear which would provide an insight into the child’s physical limitations and plan of care. Aim. The aim of the study was to find the extent of muscle weakness in hand and impact of hand grip strength on fine motor skills in ASD children. Materials and Methods. This cross sectional study was carried out in 65 ASD children who met the inclusion criteria. Subjects were recruited from Vidyasudha – Centre for children with special needs. Children diagnosed as ASD with Childhood Autism Rating Scale were included in the study. Level of the FMS was assessed by Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS-2) and grip strength was quantified with Martin Vigorimeter. Results. Unpaired t test analysis showed statistically significant change of HGS between normative values of Martin Vigorimeter in Indian population and ASD children with p < 0.05. Pearson’s correlation showed strong positive correlation between fine motor skills and hand grip strength with r value of > 0.7 and p ≤ 0.05. Conclusion. The result concludes that there is significant weakness in hand grip strength with positive correlation of fine motor skills in ASD children. The result insists routine assessment of muscle strength and use of Martin Vigorimeter for assessing hand grip strength in ASD children followed by strengthening exercises to improve activities of daily living and attain functional independency.

Key words:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fine motor skills, Hand grip strength, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Martin Vigorimeter
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The precision of index finger manipulative movements as measured with a self-designed device – potential diagnostic applications

Jacek Polechoński, Jolanta Rojczyk-Chmarek, Kajetan Słomka

J. Polechoński, J. Rojczyk-Chmarek, K. Słomka – The precision of index finger manipulative movements as measured with a self-designed device – potential diagnostic applications. Fizjoterapia Polska 2019; 19(1); 76-85

Abstract
Aim. The paper introduces a self-designed manipulandum built to assess the parameters of motion at the metacarpophalangeal joint of the index finger. The reliability of movement precision measurements is presented; potential diagnostic applications have been discussed.
Material and methods. The study group comprised 43 young men. Movement precision was evaluated with a self-designed manipulandum. The task was to repeatedly touch the target using an isolated movement. Two parameters were assessed, ie., time and distance to target. Measurement reliability was estimated with intraclass correlation analysis.
Results. 25 to 30 movement repetitions were required to achieve reliable measurements. The findings also reveal that movement repetition might result in movement learning.
Conclusions. provided a large number of repetitions are performed, the manipulandum enables reliable assessment of movement precision. Repetition does not pose a problem since a single trial only lasts for1-1.5 s; furthermore, movement at the metacarpophalangeal joint does not cause fatigue. The conditions of movement tasks should be modified to minimize the effect of movement learning. We believe the device under test might be applied to early diagnosis of rheumatic or neurological disease leading to functional compromise of the hand.

Key words:
manipulandum, movement precision, rheumatoid arthritis, fine motor skills

 

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