title: An investigation of two interventions for micrographia in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was designed to compare a change in micrographia between using grid lines and parallel horizontal lines as visual cues in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single group pre- and post-test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research lab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven males with Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practice writing words with parallel and grid lines. The sequence of practising was randomized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Length of words.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the words after practising with parallel lines was longer than in the initial free writing condition (17.83 ± 3.93 cm vs. 23.36 ± 5.82 cm, P =0.008). The length of the words after practising with grid lines was also longer than during free writing (17.83 ± 3.93 cm vs. 22.65 ± 4.04 cm, P =0.003). The length of the words after practising with parallel lines was not different from that after practising with grid lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in letter size after practising with horizontal parallel lines and grid lines were not different. The addition of vertical lines to form a grid did not appear to improve the writing more than horizontal lines alone in persons with Parkinson's disease who experienced micrographia.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. mon.bryant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Protas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003463:Cues; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011214:Practice, Psychological