Efficacy of a Manualized Intervention, Pencil Gymnastics, on Improving Manual Dexterity for 5 to 7 Year Old Children
Efficacy of a Manualized Intervention, Pencil Gymnastics, on Improving Manual Dexterity for 5 to 7 Year Old Children
Natalie deBruijn, OTS; Christine Gaw, OTS; Sara Huntley, OTS; Emily Jamieson, OTS
Abstract
This quantitative pre-test post-test study investigated a manualized intervention, Pencil Gymnastics*, to determine its efficacy in improving manual dexterity in children (n=13) between the ages of 5 and 7 years old. The main focus of Pencil Gymnastics is to ready the hands for tripod grip and pencil control, while strengthening the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the hands. The intervention addresses this through the use of prescribed finger exercises utilizing a pencil, set to familiar childhood songs. Prior to this study, no research has been completed to investigate the efficacy of prescriptive interventions that address manual dexterity and fine motor skills in children. This pilot study adds to the current base of evidence to support a manualized intervention that can be used to improve fine motor and manual dexterity deficits in children.