Assessing the handwriting process in healthy elderly persons using a computerized system.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the importance of handwriting in everyday life, virtually no literature can be found documenting the extent and range of everyday handwriting performance and ability among healthy elderly persons. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the kinematic characteristics of the handwriting process of healthy elderly persons and its correlates.


METHODS
Fifty-three healthy participants (aged 60 to 94) living in the community, performed five functional writing tasks using a computerized system which documented the handwriting process.


RESULTS
In air time (i.e., the time of non-writing while writing) accounted for approximately half to two-thirds of total writing time. Higher age was consistently associated with longer on paper and in air time, as well as with lower speed and lower pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this pilot study indicate that kinematic analysis of handwriting provides important information about the handwriting process among elderly people.
Rosenblum
Sara
S
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel. rosens@research.haifa.ac.il
Werner
Perla
P
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003199:Computer Systems; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis