title: Effect of pencil grasp on the speed and legibility of handwriting in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pencil grasps other than the dynamic tripod may be functional for handwriting. This study examined the impact of grasp on handwriting speed and legibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We videotaped 120 typically developing fourth-grade students while they performed a writing task. We categorized the grasps they used and evaluated their writing for speed and legibility using a handwriting assessment. Using linear regression analysis, we examined the relationship between grasp and handwriting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We documented six categories of pencil grasp: four mature grasp patterns, one immature grasp pattern, and one alternating grasp pattern. Multiple linear regression results revealed no significant effect for mature grasp on either legibility or speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pencil grasp patterns did not influence handwriting speed or legibility in this sample of typically developing children. This finding adds to the mounting body of evidence that alternative grasps may be acceptable for fast and legible handwriting.
authors.affiliation: Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwellnus
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carnahan
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kushki
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Polatajko
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Missiuna
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013334:Students; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis