Role of Exercise Prescription to Improve Handwriting Speed in Healthy Children

Abstract

Context: Currently, multiple kinds of research are done on undergraduate students for improving handwriting speed. This study will help to provide planned exercises for effective handwriting speed and to have a better outcome in the field of academics. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the combined effects of an upper limb resistance and coordination Exercise program on handwriting speed in healthy school-aged children. Setting and Design: A randomized control trial was conducted in the schools of Surat city. Materials and Methods: Healthy school-going children aged 10–12 years with slow handwriting speed (n = 62), i.e., average word per minute (WPM) of 10 or less than that of a 10-year-old, 12 or less than that of an 11-year-old, and 14 or less than that of a 12-year-old, were randomly allocated to experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, both resisted and coordination exercises were given. In the control group, handwriting practice was given for 4 days a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were assessed as WPMs and Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire (HPSQ) at baseline, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks. Statistical Analysis Used: The mean difference within and between groups was determined using a repeated-measure analysis of variance. Results: There was a significant difference within the group for both the outcome measures and both the groups (P < 0.05). For between-group analysis, the experimental group showed a significant difference in WPMs (P = 0.001) and handwriting proficiency screening score (P = 0.250) compared to the control group after 4 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: Upper limb resisted, and coordination exercise improves handwriting speed in school-going children.