Handwriting speed in juvenile idiopathic arthritis using the Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting

Abstract

Background: Handwriting is a commonly reported functional limitation for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this study was to evaluate handwriting in children with JIA. Findings: Twelve children (mean age 13.0 years, SD = 1.9; range 9.1 to 15.6 years) with JIA completed the Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting (DASH). The presence of hand and wrist arthritis, grip strength, disability, pain, and quality of life (QOL) was also assessed. The mean DASH score was 34.5^th percentile (SD = 22.5). Eight (75%) scored below the 50^th centile. DASH scores were negatively associated with grip strength (r = -0.31). Handwriting speed (words per minute, WPM) decreased over the course of a 10-minute freewriting task. Conclusions: Handwriting difficulties are common in children with JIA and may not relate to disease activity, pain, or disability. Handwriting speed in WPM may be a simple in clinic screening tool to identify children who may benefit from a full occupational therapy handwriting assessment.